Description
Title of Invention: PRINTING MATERIAL CARTRIDGE AND
PRINTING MATERIAL SUPPLY SYSTEM
Cross Reference to Related Applications
[0001] The present application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2010-197320 filed on September 3, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby in
corporated by reference in its entirety.
Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a printing material cartridge and a printing material
supply system including the printing material cartridge and a printing apparatus.
Background Art
[0003] Some recent printing material cartridges have a circuit (circuit element), such as a
memory device for storing information about a printing material (for example,
remaining amount of ink). See JP-A-2003-0 11390, JP-A-2007-230249, and JPA-
2005- 144723, for example. Upon attachment of the printing material cartridge to a
printing apparatus, a plurality of terminals on the printing material cartridge adapted to
contact with a plurality of apparatus-side terminals of the printing apparatus. This elec
trically connects the circuitry of the printing apparatus with the circuitry of the printing
material cartridge. It is needed to attach the printing material cartridge in an adequately
correct orientation or alignment to the printing apparatus. Especially with recent size
reduction of the individual terminals, there is an increased possibility of failed or in
sufficient connection between the plurality of terminals of the printing material
cartridge and those of the printing apparatus, due to inadequate orientation or
alignment of the printing material cartridge.
[0004] In the course of attachment of the printing material cartridge, there is a possibility
that an undesired high voltage is applied to the circuitry on the printing material
cartridge. Application of the undesired high voltage to the circuitry on the printing
material cartridge may cause a failure in the circuitry on the printing material cartridge.
[0005] There is desired a technique for enabling the printing material cartridge to be
attached in an adequately correct orientation or alignment and for reducing the pos
sibility of circuitry failure by application of an undesired high voltage to the circuitry
of the printing material cartridge.
[0006] The problems discussed above are not characteristic of the printing material
cartridge, but may be commonly found in various liquid containers or cartridges and
various liquid ejection devices, other than the printing material cartridge.
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a technique that enables a printing material
cartridge to be attached in an adequately correct orientation or alignment. It is also
desired to provide a technique that reduces the possibility of failure by application of
an unexpectedly high voltage to the circuitry of the printing material cartridge.
Solution to Problem
[0008] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing material
cartridge printing material cartridge adapted to be detachably attached to a printing
apparatus. The printing apparatus comprises a cartridge attachment section to which a
plurality of the printing material cartridges are adapted to be detachably attached. The
cartridge attachment section includes, for each of the plurality of printing material
cartridges: a terminal block having an inclined surface; apparatus-side terminals
including one apparatus-side ground terminal, the apparatus-side terminals arranged on
the terminal block, arrayed in a Y direction, and are protruded in a +Z direction from
the inclined surface of the terminal block, the one apparatus-side terminals and
protruded to a greater height than heights of other plural apparatus-side terminals in the
+Z direction from the inclined surface of the terminal block; and a printing material
supply pipe. The printing material supply pipe has a central axis C, a base portion and
a tip portion, where the base portion is fixed to the cartridge attachment section.
Assume here that an axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply
pipe is referred to as a Z axis, an axis orthogonal to the Z axis is referred to as an X
axis, an axis orthogonal to both the Z axis and the X axis is referred to as a Y axis, a
direction towards the base portion from the tip portion of the printing material supply
pipe is referred to as -Z direction, a direction towards the tip portion from the base
portion of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as the +Z direction, a
direction of array of the plurality of printing material cartridges attached to the
cartridge attachment section is referred to as the Y direction. The printing material
cartridge comprises a circuit board including a plurality of cartridge-side terminals
formed on a surface thereof. The plurality of cartridge-side terminals respectively have
contact portions that adapted to contact with corresponding ones of the apparatus-side
terminals. The printing material cartridge further comprises a printing material supply
port including an opening face parallel to the X direction and the Y direction on a -
Z-direction end of the printing material cartridge. The printing material supply port is
adapted to be connected with the printing material supply pipe to supply the printing
material stored in the container body through the printing material supply pipe to the
printing apparatus. The printing material cartridge further comprises a board mount
portion on which the circuit board is fixed such that a surface of the circuit board is
facing a plane extended from the opening face of the printing material supply port, and
that the surface of the circuit board is inclined at an acute angle relative to the plane
extended from the opening face of the printing material supply port. Among the
plurality of cartridge-side terminals provided on the surface of the circuit board, one
cartridge-side terminal has one contact portion adapted to contact with the one
apparatus-side ground terminal, and other plural cartridge-side terminals have other
contact portions that respectively adapted to contact with the other plural apparatusside
terminals. The one cartridge-side terminal is located at a position intersecting with
a CA plane, which is defined by the central axis C and an axis A that goes through the
central axis C and is parallel to the X axis. The circuit board is positioned such that the
one cartridge-side terminal adapted to contact with the one apparatus-side ground
terminal before the other plural cartridge-side terminals adapted to contact with the
corresponding other plural apparatus-side terminals in process of attachment of the
printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. With this printing
material cartridge, since the one cartridge-side terminal that first comes into contact
with the corresponding apparatus-side ground terminal, among the plurality of
cartridge-side terminals on the circuit board, is located on the CA plane, the force
applied from the apparatus-side ground terminal to the printing material cartridge is
present on the CA plane. Since the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is
located on the CA plane, the force applied from the printing material supply pipe to the
printing material cartridge is also present on the CA plane. Both the forces applied
from the apparatus-side ground terminal and the printing material supply pipe to the
printing material cartridge in the process of attachment of the printing material
cartridge to the cartridge attachment section are thus present on the CA plane, so that
little force is applied to the printing material cartridge to tilt the printing material
cartridge in the Y direction (width direction). This enables the printing material
cartridge to be attached to the printing apparatus in the adequate, correct orientation or
alignment. It should be also noted that the one cartridge-side terminal among the
plurality of cartridge-side terminals comes into contact with the apparatus-side ground
terminal, prior to the other cartridge-side terminals on the circuit board. Accordingly,
even when an undesired high voltage is to be applied to the circuitry of the printing
material cartridge, the grounding function of the ground terminal immediately lowers
the voltage level. This arrangement effectively reduces the possibility of failure in the
circuitry of the printing material cartridge by application of an undesired high voltage
from outside of the printing material cartridge.
The circuit board may be positioned such that side faces of the circuit board are
guided between a pair of board guide members that are provided on respective sides of
the apparatus-side terminals on the cartridge attachment section, in the process of attachment
of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. Since
the respective side faces of the circuit board are guided by the pair of board guide
members, this arrangement enables the printing material cartridge to be attached to the
printing apparatus, while maintaining the printing material cartridge in the more
adequate, correct orientation or alignment.
[0010] The circuit board may be positioned such that the one cartridge-side terminal comes
into contact with the apparatus-side ground terminal prior to or substantially simul
taneously with contact of the side faces of the circuit board with the pair of board guide
members, in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge
attachment section. Since the respective side faces of the circuit board are guided by
the pair of board guide members, this arrangement restricts the motion or shift of the
printing material cartridge in the Y direction and maintains the printing material
cartridge in the adequate correct orientation or alignment.
[001 1] The one cartridge- side terminal may have a longer dimension in an attachment
direction of the printing material cartridge than those of the other plural cartridge-side
terminals. This structure ensures the contact of the one cartridge- side terminal with the
corresponding apparatus-side ground terminal.
[0012] The printing material cartridge may include: a first face having the printing material
supply port; a second face opposed to the first face; a third face intersecting with the
first face and the second face; and an overhang section provided at a position where the
first face meets the third face. The overhang section may include a stepped portion
continuous with the first face. The board mount portion may be located at a position
advancing in the +Z direction from the stepped portion of the overhang section. Since
the board mount portion is located at the position advancing in the +Z direction from
the stepped portion, this arrangement effectively reduces the possibility that the
cartridge-side terminals on the circuit board are damaged by any external obstacle (for
example, a clip or another stationery article).
[0013] The printing material cartridge may further comprise: a first face having the printing
material supply port; a second face opposed to the first face; and a third face in
tersecting with the first face and the second face. The third face may have a first
cartridge-side engagement element that engages with a first apparatus-side engagement
element of the cartridge attachment section in the process of attachment of the printing
material cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. The printing material cartridge
may further comprise a fourth face intersecting with the first face and the second face
and opposed to the third face. The fourth face may have a second cartridge-side en
gagement element that engages with a second apparatus-side engagement element of
the cartridge attachment section in the process of attachment of the printing material
cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. The printing material cartridge may
further comprise: a fifth face intersecting with the first face, the second face and the
third face; and a sixth face intersecting with the first face, the second face and the third
face and opposed to the fifth face. The printing material supply port may have an
opening protruded from the first face. The opening face of the printing material supply
port may be defined by edge of the opening. With this structure, the printing material
cartridge of approximate rectangular shape is adequately attached to the cartridge at
tachment section by the first and second cartridge-side engagement elements.
[0014] In the above cartridge, the one contact portion adapted to contact with the one
apparatus-side ground terminal may be located on center of width in the Y direction of
the printing material cartridge. Since the force applied from the apparatus-side ground
terminal to the one cartridge-side terminal on the circuit board acts on the center of
width in the Y direction of the printing material cartridge, little force is applied to the
printing material cartridge to tilt the printing material cartridge in the Y direction. This
enables the printing material cartridge to be attached to the printing apparatus in the
adequate, correct orientation or alignment.
[0015] The circuit board may be arranged such that the surface of the circuit board is
inclined at an angle of 25 to 40 degrees relative to the opening face of the printing
material supply port if the surface of the circuit board is inclined at the angle of not
less than 25 degrees relative to the opening face of the printing material supply port, it
ensures a sufficient amount of wiping of the cartridge-side terminal on the circuit
board by the corresponding apparatus-side terminal in the process of attachment of the
printing material cartridge. Also if the surface of the circuit board is inclined at the
angle of not greater than 40 degrees relative to the opening face of the printing material
supply port, it enables a sufficient force in the +Z direction for moving the printing
material cartridge in the +Z direction to be applied from the apparatus-side ground
terminal to the circuit board.
[0016] Among the plurality of contact portions of the plurality of cartridge-side terminals,
the one contact portion for grounding, a pair of first contact portions of the other
contact portions for high voltage application and a pair of second contact portions of
the other contact portions for first low voltage application may be aligned in the Y
direction. The pair of first contact portions may be located at outermost positions. The
pair of second contact portions may be located between the pair of first contact
portions. The one contact portion may be located between the pair of second contact
portions. This arrangement has the advantages described below.
[0017] Advantage A-l :
The contact portion for low voltage application is located between the contact portion
for high voltage application and the contact portion for grounding. Even when dust or
ink adheres over a high voltage terminal and a low voltage terminal to apply a high
voltage to the low voltage terminal, the contact portion for grounding comes into
contact with the apparatus-side ground terminal, prior to the other contact portions of
the other plural cartridge-side terminals. This arrangement reduces the possibility of
application of an undesired high voltage to the low voltage terminal and thereby
protects the circuitry connected with the low voltage terminal from being damaged.
This circuitry is not restricted to the circuit formed on the circuit board of the printing
material cartridge but includes the circuit formed on a location other than the circuit
board, for example, the circuit formed in the printing apparatus.
[0018] Advantage A-2
In the structure that a low voltage terminal and a ground terminal are connected with
a memory device, the above arrangement protects the memory device from being
damaged, regardless of application or non-application of an undesired high voltage to
these terminals. In other words, this arrangement reduces the possibility of damage of
the memory device by electrostatic discharge, as well as the possibility of damage of
the memory device by application of an undesired high voltage to the memory device
as stated in the Advantage A-l.
[0019] Adhesion of dust or ink may cause a short circuit between the high voltage terminal
and the low voltage terminal and lead to apply an undesired high voltage to the low
voltage terminal. Apparently there may seem to be no need to give consideration to the
positional relation of the contact portions, as long as the positional relation of the
terminals on the circuit board is adequately determined. In the actual state, however,
small clearances are present between the contact portions on the circuit board and the
terminals on the printing apparatus and their peripheries and tend to suck the ink by
capillarity. When the contact portions on the circuit board adapted to contact with the
terminals on the printing apparatus, the friction-induced static electricity tends to suck
the dust. It is thus important to give consideration to the positional relation of the
contact portions on the circuit board. As long as sufficient consideration is given to the
positional relation of the contact portions on the circuit board, there is a certain degree
of freedom in designing the shapes of the terminals including the contact portions. This
increases the degree of freedom in designing the shapes of the terminals.
[0020] The plurality of contact portions of the plurality of cartridge-side terminals may be
arrayed in two rows in the Y direction. The one contact portion, the pair of first contact
portions and the pair of second contact portions may be included in a first row on a -
Z-direction side of the two rows. A pair of third contact portions of the other contact
portions for overvoltage detection and at least one contact portion of remaining of the
other contact portions for second low voltage application may be included in a second
row on a +Z-direction side of the two rows. In the second row, the pair of third contact
portions may be located at outermost positions, and the at least one contact portion
may be located between the pair of third contact portions. The third contact portion
may be located in the Y direction between the first contact portion and the second
contact portion adjacent to the first contact portion. The 'first row on the -Z-direction
side' means a row at the position advancing in the -Z direction out of the two rows. The
'second row on the +Z-direction side' means a row at the position advancing in the +Z
direction out of the two rows. Since the circuit board has inclined orientation, these
two rows also have different positions in the X direction but are here defined by only
the positional relation with regard to the Z direction. This arrangement has the ad
vantages described below.
[0021] Advantage B-l
According to the positional relation in the Y direction, the contact portions for
overvoltage detection are located between the contact portions for high voltage ap
plication, and the contact portions for low voltage application are located between the
contact portions for overvoltage detection. Even when dust or ink adheres over a high
voltage terminal, to which high voltage is applied, and a low voltage terminal to apply
a high voltage to the low voltage terminal, a terminal for overvoltage detection in
terposed between the high voltage terminal and the low voltage terminal detects the
state of overvoltage application and stops the application of high voltage. This ar
rangement reduces the possibility that an undesired high voltage is applied to the low
voltage terminal, thus protecting the circuitry connected with the low voltage terminal
from being damaged or destroyed. In the case where the low voltage terminal is
connected with a memory device, this arrangement protects the memory device from
being damaged.
[0022] Advantage B-2
Dust or ink may adhere to the circuit board in various directions and over various
areas. In the above arrangement, when dust or ink adheres across the high voltage
terminal and the low voltage terminal, there is a high probability that the adhesion area
of dust or ink includes the terminal for overvoltage detection. The Advantage B-l
discussed above may thus be expected with significantly high probability.
[0023] Advantage B-3
In the case where dust adheres to a substantially straight area in the Y direction that
does not include the terminal for overvoltage detection, the Advantages B-l and B-2
discussed above may not be expected. For example, a long thin metal strip like a staple
may adhere across the high voltage terminal and the low voltage terminal (i.e., the
terminal including the contact portion for first low voltage application) but not across
the terminal for overvoltage detection. There is, however, a high probability that the
adhesion area of such long, thin dust includes the ground terminal. As discussed above
in the Advantages A-l and A-2, as long as the adhesion area of dust covers the ground
terminal, the arrangement of causing the ground terminal to come into contact with the
apparatus-side ground terminal prior to the other contact portions of the other plural
cartridge-side terminals effectively lowers the possibility that an undesired high
voltage is applied to the low voltage terminal.
[0024] Summary of Advantages B-l through B3
As discussed above, even when dust or ink adheres to the circuit board in any state,
the arrangement may prevent the circuitry from being damaged, or prevent the memory
device from being damaged when the low voltage terminal is connected with the
memory device, by application of an undesired high voltage, with significantly high
probability.
[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing material
supply system. The printing material supply system comprises a plurality of the
printing material cartridges, and a printing apparatus having a cartridge attachment
section. The printing apparatus comprises a cartridge attachment section to which the
plurality of the printing material cartridges are detachably attached. The cartridge a t
tachment section includes, for each of the plurality of printing material cartridges: a
terminal block having an inclined surface; apparatus-side terminals including one
apparatus-side ground terminal, the apparatus-side terminals arranged on the terminal
block, arrayed in a Y direction, and protruded in a +Z direction from the inclined
surface of the terminal block, the one apparatus-side ground terminal located on center
in the Y direction among the apparatus-side terminals is protruded to a greater height
than heights of other plural apparatus-side terminals in the +Z direction from the
inclined surface of the terminal block; and a printing material supply pipe. The printing
material supply pipe has a central axis C, a base portion and a tip portion, where the
base portion is fixed to the cartridge attachment section. Assume here that an axis
parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as a Z
axis, an axis orthogonal to the Z axis is referred to as an X axis, an axis orthogonal to
both the Z axis and the X axis is referred to as a Y axis, a direction towards the base
portion from the tip portion of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as -Z
direction, a direction towards the tip portion from the base portion of the printing
material supply pipe is referred to as the +Z direction, a direction of array of the
plurality of printing material cartridges attached to the cartridge attachment section is
referred to as the Y direction. This system has advantages similar to the above
described advantages of the printing material cartridge.
[0026] The printing material cartridge may further include: a first end face and a second end
face opposed to each other in the X direction; a first cartridge-side engagement
element provided on the first end face, the first cartridge-side engagement element
engaging with a first apparatus-side engagement element of the cartridge attachment
section; and a second cartridge-side engagement element provided on the second end
face, the second cartridge-side engagement element engaging with a second apparatusside
engagement element of the cartridge attachment section. The apparatus-side
ground terminal may be has a predetermined pressing force and the circuit board may
be fixed on the board mount portion at a predetermined surface angle, such that the
first end face is moved back in the +Z direction only by the apparatus-side ground
terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals presses the circuit board in the
+Z direction, when a user releases hand from the printing material cartridge in a state
of half engagement in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge,
wherein the state of half engagement is a state wherein the second cartridge-side en
gagement element is in complete engagement with the second apparatus-side en
gagement element but the first cartridge-side engagement element is just before
complete engagement with the first apparatus-side engagement element to restrict
motion of the printing material cartridge in a vertical direction. Even when the user has
some inadequate operation, this arrangement effectively prevents the printing material
cartridge from being kept in the state of half engagement.
According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing
material supply system. The printing material supply system comprises: a plurality of
printing material cartridges, and a printing apparatus having a cartridge attachment
section to which the plurality of a printing material cartridges are attached. The
cartridge attachment section includes, for each of the plurality of printing material
cartridges: a terminal block having an inclined surface; apparatus-side terminals
including one apparatus-side ground terminal, the apparatus-side terminals arranged on
the terminal block, arrayed in a Y direction, and protruded in a +Z direction from the
inclined surface of the terminal block, the one apparatus-side ground terminal located
on center in the Y direction among the apparatus-side terminals and protruded to a
greater height than heights of other plural apparatus-side terminals in the +Z direction
from the inclined surface of the terminal block; and a printing material supply pipe.
The printing material supply pipe has a central axis C, a base portion and a tip portion,
where the base portion is fixed to the cartridge attachment section. Assume here that an
axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as a
Z axis, an axis orthogonal to the Z axis is referred to as an X axis, an axis orthogonal to
both the Z axis and the X axis is referred to as a Y axis, a direction towards the base
portion from the tip portion of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as -Z
direction, a direction towards the tip portion from the base portion of the printing
material supply pipe is referred to as the +Z direction, a direction of array of the
plurality of printing material cartridges attached to the cartridge attachment section is
referred to as the Y direction. Each of the printing material cartridges comprises a
circuit board including a plurality of cartridge-side terminals formed on a surface
thereof. The plurality of cartridge- side terminals respectively have contact portions
adapted to contact with corresponding ones of the apparatus-side terminals. The
printing material cartridge further comprises a printing material supply port including
an opening face parallel to the X direction and the Y direction on a -Z-direction end of
the printing material cartridge. The printing material supply port is connected with the
printing material supply pipe. The printing material cartridge further comprises a board
mount portion on which the circuit board is fixed such that a surface of the circuit
board is facing a plane extended from the opening face of the printing material supply
port, and that the surface of the circuit board is inclined at an acute angle relative to the
plane extended from the opening face of the printing material supply port. Among the
plurality of cartridge-side terminals provided on the surface of the circuit board, one
cartridge-side terminal has one contact portion that comes into contact with the one
apparatus-side ground terminal, and other plural cartridge-side terminals have other
contact portions that respectively come into contact with the other plural apparatusside
terminals. The one cartridge- side terminal is located at a position intersecting with
a CA plane, which is defined by the central axis C and an axis A that goes through the
central axis C and is parallel to the X axis. The circuit board is positioned such that the
one cartridge- side terminal comes into contact with the one apparatus-side ground
terminal before the other plural cartridge- side terminals come into contact with the cor
responding other plural apparatus-side terminals in process of attachment of the
printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. The cartridge at
tachment section may further have a pair of board guide members provided on re
spective sides of the apparatus-side terminals, and a pair of longitudinal guide
members. The circuit board may have a pair of longitudinal guide wall members
provided corresponding to the pair of longitudinal guide members of the cartridge at
tachment section. The pair of longitudinal guide wall members may be located at
positions advancing in the Z direction from the one cartridge-side terminal on r e
spective side faces of the circuit board. The circuit board may be arranged such that the
respective side faces of the circuit board are guided between the pair of board guide
members in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge
attachment section, and such that the one cartridge-side terminal comes into contact
with the apparatus-side ground terminal prior to or substantially simultaneously with
contact of the respective side faces of the circuit board with the pair of board guide
members in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge
attachment section. The printing material cartridge may be attached to the cartridge at
tachment section by a sequence of steps of: (a) the printing material cartridge is being
inserted to move in the -Z direction while peripheries of -Z-direction ends of the pair
of longitudinal guide wall members are in contact with +Z-direction ends of the pair of
longitudinal guide members; (b) the one cartridge-side terminal comes in contact with
the apparatus-side ground terminal after the pair of longitudinal guide wall members
start moving in the -Z direction while being in contact with the pair of longitudinal
guide members, and before the respective side faces of the circuit board come into
contact with the pair of board guide members; and (c) the printing material cartridge is
moving in the -Z direction to be inserted, while the respective side faces of the circuit
board are in contact with the pair of board guide members. As discussed above with
regard to the first aspect of the invention, in the printing material supply system
according to the third aspect of the invention, both the forces applied from the
apparatus-side ground terminal and the printing material supply pipe to the printing
material cartridge in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to the
cartridge attachment section are present on the CA plane, so that little force is applied
to the printing material cartridge to tilt the printing material cartridge in the Y direction
(width direction). This enables the printing material cartridge to be attached to the
printing apparatus in the adequate, correct orientation or alignment. Since the one
cartridge-side terminal among the plurality of cartridge-side terminals comes into
contact with the apparatus-side ground terminal, prior to the other cartridge-side
terminals on the circuit board, even when an external high voltage is applied to the
circuitry of the printing material cartridge, the grounding function of the ground
terminal immediately lowers the voltage level. This arrangement effectively reduces
the possibility of failure in the circuitry of the printing material cartridge by application
of a high voltage from outside of the printing material cartridge. As discussed before, if
the respective side faces of the circuit board are guided by the pair of board guide
members, it enables the printing material cartridge to be attached to the printing
apparatus, while maintaining the printing material cartridge in the more adequate,
correct orientation or alignment. As discussed before, if the respective side faces of the
circuit board are guided by the pair of board guide members, it restricts the motion or
shift of the printing material cartridge in the Y direction and maintains the printing
material cartridge in the adequate correct orientation or alignment. In the printing
material supply system according to the third aspect of the invention, the attachment of
the printing material cartridge is implemented via the step (a) where the printing
material cartridge move in the -Z direction to be inserted, while the peripheries of the -
Z-direction ends of the pair of longitudinal guide wall members are in contact with the
+Z-direction ends of the pair of longitudinal guide members. The insertion of the
printing material cartridge accordingly follows the path where the cartridge-side
terminals on the circuit board adequately come into contact with the corresponding
apparatus-side terminals. The steps (b) and (c) further enable the printing material
cartridge to be kept in the adequate correct orientation or alignment, while restricting
the motion or shift of the printing material cartridge in the Y direction.
[0028] The cartridge attachment section may further have a pair of lateral guide members.
The board mount portion may have a pair of lateral guide wall members provided cor
responding to the pair of lateral guide members, where the pair of lateral guide wall
members are located at positions advancing in the +Z direction from the one cartridgeside
terminal on the respective side faces of the circuit board. The printing material
cartridge may be configured such that outer surfaces of the pair of lateral guide wall
members are guided by inner surfaces of the pair of lateral guide members prior to the
step (a) in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge
attachment section. Since the inner surfaces of the pair of lateral guide members guide
the outer surfaces of the pair of lateral guide wall members, this arrangement e f
fectively prevents the printing material cartridge from being significantly moved or
shifted in the Y direction and enables the printing material cartridge to be attached to
the cartridge attachment section with keeping the adequate correct orientation or
alignment in the subsequent attachment process.
[0029] The board mount portion may have cutouts located between the pair of longitudinal
guide wall members and the pair of lateral guide wall members to make the respective
side faces of the circuit board exposed, and the pair of board guide members of the
cartridge attachment section may come into contact with exposed side faces of the
circuit board exposed by the cutouts. Since the pair of board guide members guide the
circuit board, while being in contact with the exposed side faces of the circuit board by
the cutouts, this arrangement enables especially part of the printing material cartridge
proximate to the circuit board to be kept in the adequate correct orientation or
alignment.
[0030] The printing material cartridge may include: a first face having the printing material
supply port; a second face opposed to the first face; a third face intersecting with the
first face and the second face; and an overhang section provided at a position where the
first face meets the third face. The overhang section may include a stepped portion
continuous with the first face. The board mount portion may be located at a position
advancing in the +Z direction from the stepped portion of the overhang section. Since
the board mount portion is located at the position advancing in the +Z direction from
the stepped portion, this arrangement effectively reduces the possibility that the
cartridge-side terminals on the circuit board are damaged by any external obstacle (for
example, a clip or another stationery article).
[0031] The printing material cartridge may have a fitting element at a position of in
tersection between the stepped portion and the first face. The cartridge attachment
section may have an apparatus-side fitting element corresponding to the fitting element
of the printing material cartridge. In the process of attachment of the printing material
cartridge to the cartridge attachment section, the printing material cartridge may be
guided at least by start of fitting of the fitting element with the apparatus-side fitting
element in the step (c). Fitting of the fitting element of the printing material cartridge
with the apparatus-side fitting element enables the printing material cartridge to be
attached at the right attachment position in the adequate correct orientation or
alignment.
[0032] The printing material cartridge may further include: a first face having the printing
material supply port; a second face opposed to the first face; and a third face in
tersecting with the first face and the second face, wherein the third face has a first
cartridge-side engagement element that engages with a first apparatus-side engagement
element of the cartridge attachment section in the process of attachment of the printing
material cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. The printing material cartridge
may further include: a fourth face intersecting with the first face and the second face
and opposed to the third face, wherein the fourth face has a second cartridge-side en
gagement element that engages with a second apparatus-side engagement element of
the cartridge attachment section in the process of attachment of the printing material
cartridge to the cartridge attachment section; a fifth face intersecting with the first face,
the second face and the third face; and a sixth face intersecting with the first face, the
second face and the third face and opposed to the fifth face. The printing material
supply port may have an opening protruded from the first face. The opening face of the
printing material supply port may be defined by edge of the opening. With this ar
rangement, the printing material cartridge of approximate rectangular shape is ad
equately attached to the cartridge attachment section by the first and second cartridgeside
engagement elements.
[0033] In the above printing material supply system, the one contact portion that comes in
contact with the one apparatus-side ground terminal may be located on center of width
in the Y direction of the printing material cartridge. Since the force applied from the
apparatus-side ground terminal to the one cartridge-side terminal on the circuit board
acts on the center of width in the Y direction of the printing material cartridge, little
force is applied to the printing material cartridge to tilt the printing material cartridge
in the Y direction. This enables the printing material cartridge to be attached to the
printing apparatus in the adequate, correct orientation or alignment.
[0034] The circuit board may be arranged such that the surface of the circuit board is
inclined at an angle of 25 to 40 degrees relative to the opening face of the printing
material supply port. If the surface of the circuit board is inclined at the angle of not
less than 25 degrees relative to the opening face of the printing material supply port, it
ensures a sufficient amount of wiping of the cartridge-side terminal on the circuit
board by the corresponding apparatus-side terminal in the process of attachment of the
printing material cartridge. Also if the surface of the circuit board is inclined at the
angle of not greater than 40 degrees relative to the opening face of the printing material
supply port, it enables a sufficient force in the +Z direction for moving the printing
material cartridge in the +Z direction to be applied from the apparatus-side ground
terminal to the circuit board.
[0035] In the above printing material supply system, the one contact portion for grounding, a
pair of first contact portions of the other contact portions for high voltage application
and a pair of second contact portions of the other contact portions for first low voltage
application may be aligned in the Y direction. The pair of first contact portions may be
located at outermost positions. The pair of second contact portions may be located
between the pair of first contact portions. The one contact portion may be located
between the pair of second contact portions. This arrangement has the advantages
described below.
[0036] Advantage A-l :
The contact portion for low voltage application is located between the contact portion
for high voltage application and the contact portion for grounding. Even when dust or
ink adheres over a high voltage terminal and a low voltage terminal to apply a high
voltage to the low voltage terminal, the contact portion for grounding comes into
contact with the apparatus-side ground terminal, prior to the other contact portions of
the other plural cartridge-side terminals. This arrangement reduces the possibility of
application of an undesired high voltage to the low voltage terminal and thereby
protects the circuitry connected with the low voltage terminal from being damaged.
This circuitry is not restricted to the circuit formed on the circuit board of the printing
material cartridge but includes the circuit formed on a location other than the circuit
board, for example, the circuit formed in the printing apparatus.
[0037] Advantage A-2
In the structure that a low voltage terminal and a ground terminal are connected with
a memory device, the above arrangement protects the memory device from being
damaged, regardless of application or non-application of an undesired high voltage to
these terminals. In other words, this arrangement reduces the possibility of damage of
the memory device by electrostatic discharge, as well as the possibility of damage of
the memory device by application of an undesired high voltage to the memory device
as stated in the Advantage A-l.
[0038] Adhesion of dust or ink may cause a short circuit between the high voltage terminal
and the low voltage terminal and lead to apply an undesired high voltage to the low
voltage terminal. Apparently there may seem to be no need to give consideration to the
positional relation of the contact portions, as long as the positional relation of the
terminals is adequately determined. In the actual state, however, small clearances are
present between the contact portions and the terminals on the printing apparatus and
their peripheries and tend to suck the ink by capillarity. When the contact portions
come into contact with the terminals on the printing apparatus, the friction-induced
static electricity tends to suck the dust. It is thus important to give consideration to the
positional relation of the contact portions. As long as sufficient consideration is given
to the positional relation of the contact portions, there is a certain degree of freedom in
designing the shapes of the terminals including the contact portions. This increases the
degree of freedom in designing the shapes of the terminals.
[0039] In the printing material system, the plurality of contact portions of the plurality of
cartridge-side terminals may be arrayed in two rows in the Y direction. The one
contact portion, the pair of first contact portions and the pair of second contact portions
may be included in a first row on a -Z-direction side of the two rows. A pair of third
contact portions of the other contact portions for overvoltage detection and at least one
contact portion of remaining of the other contact portions for second low voltage ap
plication may be included in a second row on a +Z-direction side of the two rows. In
the second row, the pair of third contact portions may be located at outermost
positions, and the at least one contact portion may be located between the pair of third
contact portions. The third contact portion may be located in the Y direction between
the first contact portion and the second contact portion adjacent to the first contact
portion. The 'first row on the -Z-direction side' means a row at the position advancing
in the -Z direction out of the two rows. The 'second row on the +Z-direction side'
means a row at the position advancing in the +Z direction out of the two rows. Since
the circuit board has inclined orientation, these two rows also have different positions
in the X direction but are here defined by only the positional relation with regard to the
Z direction. This arrangement has the advantages described below.
[0040] Advantage B-l
According to the positional relation in the Y direction, the contact portions for
overvoltage detection are located between the contact portions for high voltage ap
plication, and the contact portions for low voltage application are located between the
contact portions for overvoltage detection. Even when dust or ink adheres over a high
voltage terminal, to which high voltage is applied, and a low voltage terminal to apply
a high voltage to the low voltage terminal, a terminal for overvoltage detection in
terposed between the high voltage terminal and the low voltage terminal detects the
state of overvoltage application and stops the application of high voltage. This ar
rangement reduces the possibility that an undesired high voltage is applied to the low
voltage terminal, thus protecting the circuitry connected with the low voltage terminal
from being damaged or destroyed. In the case where the low voltage terminal is
connected with a memory device, this arrangement protects the memory device from
being damaged.
[0041] Advantage B-2
Dust or ink may adhere to the circuit board in various directions and over various
areas. In the above arrangement, when dust or ink adheres across the high voltage
terminal and the low voltage terminal, there is a high probability that the adhesion area
of dust or ink includes the terminal for overvoltage detection. The Advantage B-l
discussed above may thus be expected with significantly high probability.
[0042] Advantage B-3
In the case where dust adheres to a substantially straight area in the Y direction that
does not include the terminal for overvoltage detection, the Advantages B-l and B-2
discussed above may not be expected. For example, a long thin metal strip like a staple
may adhere across the high voltage terminal and the low voltage terminal (i.e., the
terminal including the contact portion for first low voltage application) but not across
the terminal for overvoltage detection. There is, however, a high probability that the
adhesion area of such long, thin dust includes the ground terminal. As discussed above
in the Advantages A-l and A-2, as long as the adhesion area of dust covers the ground
terminal, the arrangement of causing the ground terminal to come into contact with the
apparatus-side ground terminal prior to the other contact portions of the other plural
cartridge-side terminals effectively lowers the possibility that an undesired high
voltage is applied to the low voltage terminal.
[0043] Summary of Advantages B-l through B3
As discussed above, even when dust or ink adheres to the circuit board in any state,
the arrangement may prevent the circuitry from being damaged, or prevent the memory
device from being damaged when the low voltage terminal is connected with the
memory device, by application of an undesired high voltage, with significantly high
probability.
[0044] In the printing material supply system, the printing material cartridge may further
include: a first cartridge-side engagement element provided on a first end face to
engage with a first apparatus-side engagement element of the cartridge attachment
section; and a second cartridge-side engagement element provided on a second end
face opposed to the first end face to engage with a second apparatus-side engagement
element of the cartridge attachment section. The apparatus-side ground terminal may
be has a predetermined pressing force and the circuit board may be fixed on the board
mount portion at a predetermined surface angle, such that the first end face is moved
back in the +Z direction only by the apparatus-side ground terminal among the
plurality of apparatus-side terminals presses the circuit board in the +Z direction, when
a user releases hand from the printing material cartridge in a state of half engagement
in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge, wherein the state of half
engagement is a state wherein the second cartridge-side engagement element is in
complete engagement with the second apparatus-side engagement element but the first
cartridge-side engagement element is just before complete engagement with the first
apparatus-side engagement element to restrict motion of the printing material cartridge
in a vertical direction. Even when the user has some inadequate operation, this ar
rangement effectively prevents the printing material cartridge from being kept in the
state of half engagement.
[0045] The invention may be implemented as various embodiments, for example, as a liquid
cartridge, a liquid container, a printing material cartridge, a printing material container,
a cartridge adapter, a circuit board, a printing apparatus, a liquid ejection device, a
printing material supply system including a printing apparatus and a printing material
cartridge and a liquid supply system including a liquid ejection device and a liquid
cartridge.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0046] [fig. 1]Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to a first em
bodiment of the invention;
[fig.2]Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a holder according to the first embodiment;
[fig.3]Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing thestructure of a cartridge according to the
first embodiment;
[fig.4A]Fig. 4A shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.4B]Fig. 4B shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.4C]Fig. 4C shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.4D]Fig. 4D shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.5A]Fig. 5A shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.5B]Fig. 5B shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.5C]Fig. 5C shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.5D]Fig. 5D shows the structure of the cartridge according to the first embodiment;
[fig.6A]Fig. 6A shows a circuit board;
[fig.6B]Fig. 6B shows a circuit board;
[fig.7]Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical structure of the circuit board of
the cartridge and the printing apparatus;
[fig.8A]Fig. 8A shows the holder;
[fig.8B]Fig. 8B shows the holder;
[fig.8C]Fig. 8C shows the holder;
[fig.8D]Fig. 8D shows the holder;
[fig.9]Fig. 9 is a C-C sectional view of Fig. 8A;
[fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a terminal block;
[fig. 11A]Fig. 11A shows attachment of the cartridge to the holder;
[fig. 1lBJFig. 1IB shows attachment of the cartridge to the holder;
[fig.l2A]Fig. 12A shows attachment of the cartridge to the holder;
[fig.l2B]Fig. 12B shows attachment of the cartridge to the holder;
[fig.l3A]Fig. 13A shows the state where apparatus-side terminals come into contact
with board terminals in the course of attachment of the cartridge;
[fig.l3B]Fig. 13B shows the state where apparatus-side terminals come into contact
with board terminals in the course of attachment of the cartridge;
[fig.l3C]Fig. 13C shows the state where apparatus-side terminals come into contact
with board terminals in the course of attachment of the cartridge;
[fig.l4A]Fig. 14A shows one of various states of adhesion of foreign substances to the
circuit board;
[fig.l4B]Fig. 14B shows one of various states of adhesion of foreign substances to the
circuit board;
[fig.l4C]Fig. 14C shows one of various states of adhesion of foreign substances to the
circuit board;
[fig.l4D]Fig. 14D shows one of various states of adhesion of foreign substances to the
circuit board;
[fig.l4E]Fig. 14E shows one of various states of adhesion of foreign substances to the
circuit board;
[fig.l5A]Fig. 15A shows the cartridge in the attached state;
[fig.l5B]Fig. 15B shows the cartridge in the attached state;
[fig. 16A]Fig. 16A shows detachment of the cartridge from the holder;
[fig.l6B]Fig. 16B shows detachment of the cartridge from the holder;
[fig.l6C]Fig. 16C shows detachment of the cartridge from the holder;
[fig.l6D]Fig. 16D shows detachment of the cartridge from the holder;
[fig.l7]Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a holder according to a second embodiment of
the invention;
[fig.l8]Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a terminal block according to the second em
bodiment;
[fig. 19] Fig. 19 shows one example of positional relation of four types of guide
members;
[fig.20A-l]Fig. 20A-1 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of at
tachment;
[fig.20A-2]Fig. 20A-2 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of at
tachment;
[fig.20B-l]Fig. 20B-1 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of attachment;
[fig.20B-2]Fig. 20B-2 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of at
tachment;
[fig.21A-l]Fig. 21A-1 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of at
tachment;
[fig.21A-2]Fig. 21A-2 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of at
tachment;
[fig.21B-l]Fig. 21B-1 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of at
tachment;
[fig.21B-2]Fig. 21B-2 shows guiding operation of the cartridge in the course of at
tachment;
[fig.22]Fig. 22 is a graph showing a relation of wiping amount of a board terminal to a
board inclination angle phi;
[fig.23A]Fig. 23A is a graph showing a relation of upward force by an apparatus-side
ground terminal to a board inclination angle phi;
[fig.23B]Fig. 23B shows the upward force by the apparatus-side ground terminal;
[fig.24]Fig. 24 is a graph showing another relation of wiping amount of the board
terminal to a board inclination angle phi;
[fig.25]Fig. 25 is a graph showing another relation of upward force by the apparatusside
ground terminal to a board inclination angle phi;
[fig.26]Fig. 26 is a perspective view showing the structure of another ink cartridge
according to another embodiment;
[fig.27]Fig. 27 is a perspective view showing the structure of another ink cartridge
according to another embodiment;
[fig.28]Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing the structure of another ink cartridge
according to another embodiment;
[fig.29A]Fig. 29A shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.29B]Fig. 29B shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.29C]Fig. 29C shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.29D]Fig. 29D shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.29E]Fig. 29E shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.29F]Fig. 29F shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.29G]Fig. 29G shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.29H]Fig. 29H shows various shape of ink cartridges according to other em
bodiments;
[fig.30A]Fig. 30A shows various shape of terminals on the circuit board according to
modified examples;
[fig.30B]Fig. 30B shows various shape of terminals on the circuit board according to
modified examples; and
[fig.30C]Fig. 30C shows various shape of terminals on the circuit board according to
modified examples.
Description of Embodiments
[0047] A. First Embodiment:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a printing apparatus according
to a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 includes indication of XYZ axes that are
orthogonal to one another. The XYZ axes in Fig. 1 correspond to the XYZ axes in the
other drawings. Some of the subsequent drawings also include similar indication of the
XYZ axes. In this embodiment, when the printing apparatus is in a position in use, the
Z-axis direction is the vertical direction, and a face in the X-axis direction of the
printing apparatus forms the front face. This printing apparatus is a small-sized inkjet
printer for personal use and has a sub-scan feed mechanism, a main scan feed
mechanism, and a head drive mechanism. The sub-scan feed mechanism includes a
paper feed roller 12, which is driven by a paper feed motor (not shown), to feed a sheet
of printing paper P in a sub-scanning direction. The main scan feed mechanism
includes a carriage motor 14 to move back and forth a carriage 30, which is connected
with a drive belt 1, in a main scanning direction. The main scanning direction of the
printing apparatus is the Y-axis direction, and the sub-scanning direction is the X-axis
direction. The head drive mechanism drives a print head 32 provided on the carriage
30 to perform ink ejection and dot formation. The printing apparatus further includes a
controller 40 for controlling the operations of the respective mechanisms explained
above. The controller 30 is connected with the carriage 30 by means of a flexible cable
42.
[0048] The carriage 30 includes a holder 20 and the print head 32. The holder 20 is designed
to accommodate a plurality of cartridges and is located above the print head 32. The
cartridges attached to the holder 20 are aligned in the Y direction. The holder 20 may
be also called 'cartridge attachment section'. In the illustrated example of Fig. 1, four
cartridges, for example, four different color cartridges of black, yellow, magenta and
cyan, may be independently attachable to the holder 20. The attachment direction of
the cartridges is the -Z direction (a vertically downward direction in this embodiment).
The holder 20 may be designed to accommodate a plurality of any other different
cartridges. The holder 20 has no cover. Ink supply pipes 240 are provided on the print
head 32 to supply inks from the respective cartridges to the print head 32. Like this
printing apparatus, the type of the printing apparatus having the cartridges replaceable
by the user attached to the cartridge attachment section (a holder) on the carriage of the
print head is called an 'on-carriage type' printing apparatus.
[0049] In this embodiment and a second embodiment discussed later, the Z axis is set in the
vertical direction. But this is not restrictive. Alternatively the Z axis (i.e., central axis C
of the printing material supply pipe 240) may be set in the horizontal direction or
thogonal to the vertical direction.
[0050] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the holder 20 with a cartridge
10 attached thereto. For the simplicity of explanation, only one cartridge 10 is attached
to the holder 20 in Fig. 2.
[0051] The holder 20 has four slots, each being designed to enable attachment of one
cartridge 10. Each slot of the holder 20 has an ink supply pipe 240. The structure of the
holder 20 will be described in more details below with reference to Figs. 8A-8D and 9.
As shown in Fig. 9, a central axis C of the ink supply pipe 240 is parallel to the Z axis.
The ink supply pipe 240 has a base portion 240b and a tip portion 240h. The base
portion 240b is fixed to the holder 20. The base portion 240b of the ink supply pipe
240 is in the -Z direction, and the tip portion 240h is in the +Z direction. Referring
back to Fig. 2, the ink runs from the cartridge 10 through the ink supply pipe 240 to be
supplied to the print head 32. An elastic seal member 242 is placed around the ink
supply pipe 240 to seal an ink supply port of the cartridge 10 and thereby prevent
leakage of ink. The cartridge 10 has a lever 120 (a lever member) of an elastically-deformable
elastic material. The user operates the lever 120 to detach the cartridge 10
from the holder 20. The operations of attaching and detaching the cartridge 10 to and
from the holder 20 will be discussed in detail below.
[0052] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge 10 according to the embodiment. The at
tachment direction or insertion direction SD of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20 is the -
Z direction (a vertically downward direction in this embodiment). In the actual state
when the cartridge 10 is inserted into the holder 20, the orientation of the cartridge 10
may not always be parallel to the Z axis. As shown in Figs. 11A, 12A, and 12B
discussed later, in the course of attachment of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20, the or i
entation of the cartridge 10 may be tilted from the Z axis. In the state immediately
before completion of the attachment and in the attached state, however, the printing
material supply pipe or ink supply pipe 240 having the central axis C parallel to the Z
axis is placed in an ink supply port 110, so that the orientation of the cartridge 10 is
controlled by the ink supply pipe 240. In summary, the attachment direction of the
cartridge 10 to the holder 20 is the -Z direction. The cartridge 10 has an ink container
body 100 for containing ink (also called 'ink container' or 'housing') and a circuit board
400 (also called 'board'). An ink chamber 108 for storing ink is formed inside the ink
container body 100. The ink container body 100 is formed in an approximate-cuboid
shape as a whole, and has six faces, i.e., a bottom face 101 (a first face), a top face 102
(a second face), a front face 103 (a third face), a rear face 104 (a fourth face), a left
side face 105 (a fifth face) and a right side face 106 (a sixth face). The names of the r e
spective faces (e.g., 'bottom face' and 'top face') indicate the locations of the respective
faces when the cartridge 10 is in an upright orientation as in the attached state in the
holder 20 and when viewed from the front side of the printing apparatus. The front face
103 faces the user when the cartridge 10 is attached to the holder 20. The positional
relation of the side faces 103 to 106 may be changed according to the structure of the
holder. For example, one of the fourth through the sixth faces 104, 105 and 106 may
form the front face. The invention is also applicable to the printer having cartridges
inserted in the horizontal direction instead of the vertical direction. In this case, the
first face 101 and the second face 102 may become the side faces. The respective faces
101 to 106 are made of planar members, and may thus be called 'plane members' or
'wall members'. The ink container body 100 is made of a resin material and is con
structed as an assembly of a plurality of members. Part of the six faces 101 to 106 (for
example, either the left side face 105 or the right side face 106) may be made of a resin
film.
The bottom face 101 has the ink supply port 110 that is connected with the ink
supply pipe 240 of the printing apparatus in the state where the cartridge 10 is attached
to the holder 20. In the state before use, the opening of the ink supply port 110 may be
sealed with a cap or a film. The top face 102 is opposed to the bottom face 101. The
front face 103 intersects with the bottom face 101 and the top face 102. The lever 120
is provided on the front face 103. The lever 120 has an engagement release element
122 and an engagement projection 124 (a first cartridge-side engagement element).
The lever 120 is used for attachment and detachment of the cartridge 10 to and from
the holder 20. The user presses the lever 120 to mechanically engage and disengage the
engagement projection 124 with and from an engagement element of the holder 20 (a
first apparatus-side engagement element). The engagement projection 124 accordingly
serves to hold the cartridge 10 in the attached state by engaging with the corresponding
apparatus-side engagement element. The lever 120 may be omitted if unnecessary.
Even in the structure without the lever 120, the cartridge is preferably equipped with
the engagement projection 124 (a first cartridge-side engagement element). An en
gagement projection 160 (a second cartridge- side engagement element) is provided on
the rear face 104. This engagement projection 160 also serves to hold the cartridge 10
in the attached state by engaging with an engagement element of the holder 20 (a
second apparatus-side engagement element). The left side face 105 intersects with the
bottom face 101, the top face 102 and the front face 103. The right side face 106 is
opposed to the left side face 105 and intersects with the bottom face 101, the top face
102 and the front face 103. In this upright orientation, the cartridge 10 has a largest
dimension in length (in the X direction), a second largest dimension in height (in the Z
direction) and smallest dimension in width (in the Y direction). Among the six faces
explained above, the left side face 105 and the right side face 106 are largest in area,
the bottom face 101 and the top face 102 are second largest in area, and the front face
103 and the rear face 104 are smallest in area. The relation of these faces in terms of
size is, however, not restrictive but may be modified arbitrarily. For example, the ink
container body may be formed in a substantial cube shape as a whole.
[0054] A board mount portion 180 is formed at the position where the bottom face 101 in
tersects with the front face 103 (i.e., a front lower end corner of the ink container body
100). The board 400 is fixed on this board mount portion 180. In this embodiment, the
board mount portion 180 is formed to have an inclined plane inclined from the bottom
face 101. More specifically, an overhang section 190, which includes the board mount
portion 180 and a stepped portion 188, is located at an end of the bottom face 101
proximate to the front face 103. The stepped portion 188 rises upward from the bottom
face 101. The board mount portion 180 is formed above the stepped portion 188. The
overhang section 190 accordingly has the stepped portion 188 rising upward from the
bottom face 101 and the board mount portion 180 arranged above the stepped portion
188. It may be thought that the board mount portion 180 is arranged at a lower end of
the front face 103. The circuit board 400 is fixed on the board mount portion 180, such
that the surface of the board 400 faces down. The inclined plane of the board mount
portion 180 is tilted from a virtual opening face (a plane parallel to YX plane) which is
defined by the end opening of the ink supply port 110.
[0055] A pair of longitudinal guide wall members 182 (first wall members) and a pair of
lateral guide wall members 184 (second wall members) are provided on the left and
right side faces of the board mount portion 180 (i.e., side faces in SYMBOL 177 \f
"Symbol" \s 12Y directions). The pair of longitudinal guide wall members 182 cover
parts of the two side faces of the circuit board 400 at the position below a ground
terminal (discussed later) of the circuit board 400. Lower edge parts of the pair of lon
gitudinal guide wall members 182 are located in the -Z direction (vertically downward
direction in this embodiment) from the board surface of the circuit board 400. The pair
of lateral guide wall members 184 cover parts of the two side faces of the circuit board
400 at the position in the +Z direction (upward direction in this embodiment) from the
ground terminal of the circuit board 400. A cutout 186 is formed between each of the
pair of longitudinal guide wall members 182 and each of the pair of lateral guide wall
members 184. Both the side faces of the circuit board 400 are exposed in the cutouts
186. The longitudinal guide wall member 182 and the lateral guide wall member 184
may be structured as parts of one plate- member. In this application, one plate member
is provided on each of the two side faces of the circuit board 400. The pair of lon
gitudinal guide wall members 182, the pair of lateral guide wall members 184 and the
cutouts 186 are guided by corresponding guide members of the holder 20 in the course
of attachment of the cartridge 10 in the second embodiment discussed below, so that
the cartridge 10 is attached in the right orientation or alignment. The first embodiment
does not utilize such guiding function, and part or all of these elements 182, 184 and
186 may be omitted if unnecessary.
[0056] The stepped portion 188 arranged below the board mount portion 180 serves to
protect terminals 410 to 490 (see Fig. 6A) provided on the board surface of the circuit
board 400 from being accidentally damaged. In a hypothetical structure without the
stepped portion 188, the board mount portion 180 and the circuit board 400 are
arranged proximate to the bottom face 101. When the cartridge 10 in the upright ori
entation is put on the desktop, some obstacle (for example, a clip or another stationery
article) may hit against the bottom face 101 and the terminals on the proximate circuit
board 400, thereby damaging the terminals. In the structure with the stepped portion
188, on the other hand, there is a low probability that any foreign article on the desktop
hits against the circuit board 400 located above the stepped portion 188. This ar
rangement thus reduces the possibility of accidentally damaging the terminals 410 to
490 formed on the board surface of the circuit board 400.
[0057] Figs. 4A-4D are respectively a left side view, a front view, a rear view and a bottom
view of the cartridge 10. Fig. 5A shows the A-A cross section of Fig. 4B. Figs. 5B and
5C are explanatory diagrams showing a method of detecting the remaining amount of
ink. Figs. 5B and 5C show the B-B cross sections of Fig. 5A.
[0058] As shown in Fig. 4A, the bottom face 101 has the ink supply port 110 for flowing out
the ink from the ink chamber 108. The ink supply port 110 is formed in the bottom
face 101 at the position closer to the rear face 104 than the front face 103. As shown in
Figs. 4A and 4D, the ink supply port 110 has a sponge-like foam 112, an ink flow path
114, and an opening 116 (a cylindrical opening) which is protruded from the bottom
face 101. The foam 112 is located at the outlet of the ink flow path 114 to prevent u n
intentional leakage of ink through the ink flow path 114.
[0059] The axis C of the ink supply pipe 240 (Fig. 9) intersects perpendicularly with the
opening 116 of the ink supply port 110. The axis C runs through the center of the
opening 116 of the ink supply port 110 in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the axis
C is identical with an axis 11Ox in the Z direction (a vertical direction in this em
bodiment) which runs through the center of gravity of the opening 116 of the ink
supply port 110. In this embodiment, the axis 1lOx runs through the center of the width
in the Y direction of the cartridge 10. The opening 116, when viewed in the +Z
direction, is generally designed to have a line-symmetric contour (for example, precise
circle, ellipse, oval, square, rectangle or rounded rectangle) with respect to both the Xdirection
axis and the Y-direction axis. In this embodiment, the opening 116 has an e l
liptical contour or outline. In this case, the 'center of the opening in the Y direction'
means the center of the symmetrical axis in the Y direction of the contour shape of the
opening 116. The 'center of the opening' means the center of gravity of the contour
shape of the opening 116. In another embodiment, the contour shape of the opening
116 may not be line symmetric. In this case, a virtual line-symmetric contour shape
(for example, rectangle) which circumscribes the contour of the opening may be
assumed, and the 'center of the opening in the Y direction' and the 'center of the
opening' may be determined from the virtual line-symmetric contour shape.
[0060] The face defined by the end opening of the opening 116 of the ink supply port 110
(referred to as 'opening face') and a plane 1lOp extended from the opening face are
parallel to both the X axis (X direction) and the Y axis (Y direction), i.e., parallel to the
XY plane. The opening face of the ink supply port 110 and the extended plane 1lOp
are orthogonal to the central axis C of the ink supply pipe 240. The opening face of the
ink supply port 110 and the extended plane 1lOp are also orthogonal to the axis 1lOx
in the Z direction going through the center of the ink supply port 110.
[0061] As shown in Figs. 4A, 4D and 5A, a prism unit 170t is also provided on the bottom
face 101. The prism unit 170t is made of a translucent resin (for example,
polypropylene). As shown in Figs. 5A to 5C, the prism unit 170t includes a prism 170
used for detecting the remaining amount of ink. The prism 170 has geometry of an
isosceles right triangular prism and is arranged to locate its reflecting planes 170f
inside the ink chamber 108. As shown in Fig. 5A, the prism 170 is located proximate
to the front face 103 on the inner surface of the bottom face 101. The prism 170 is
arranged to be in contact with both an inner surface 101a parallel to the X direction and
an inner face 101b parallel to the Z direction. This arrangement prevents the ink flow
from the bottom face 101 toward the ink supply port 110 from being blocked by a
space S formed between the prism 170 and the inner surface of the cartridge 10 (see
Fig. 5D as a comparative example). This arrangement thus reduces the amount of ink
retention in the ink chamber 108 and ensures efficient ink consumption.
[0062] As shown in Figs. 5B and 5C, the printing apparatus has an optical detector 90. Light
emitted from a light-emitting element 92 of the optical detector 90 enters the prism
170. The light reflection by the prism 170 depends on the refractive index of the fluid,
to which the reflecting planes 170f are exposed. As shown in Fig. 5B, when the
remaining amount of ink is reduced to a level that causes the reflecting planes 170f to
be exposed to the air, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 92 is reflected
on the reflecting planes 170f of the prism 170, and then enters a light-receiving
element 94. As shown in Fig. 5C, when the remaining amount of ink in the ink
chamber 108 is at a level that causes the reflecting planes 170f to be exposed to ink IK,
on the other hand, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 92 transmits
through the reflecting plane 170f to be absorbed in the ink IK. The fall of the ink level
is detectable by observing the light entering the light-receiving element 94.
[0063] As shown in Figs. 4A, 4B and 5A, the stepped portion 188 has a cutout groove 140.
As shown in Fig. 4B, the cutout groove 140 is formed on the approximate center of the
width in the Y direction of the stepped portion 188. The cutout groove 140 is also
called 'fitting recess' or 'positioning recess'.
[0064] As discussed previously, the circuit board 400 is located on the inclined board mount
portion 180. As can be seen in Fig. 5A, when projected in the Z direction (vertical
direction in this embodiment, the circuit board 400 partly overlaps the cutout groove
140. In the attached state of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20, the circuit board 400 is
thus located vertically above the cutout groove 140. In the attached state to the holder
20, the circuit board 400 is electrically connected with the controller 40 of the printing
apparatus (Fig. 1) to transmit various pieces of information (or signals) to and from the
printing apparatus.
[0065] As shown in Figs. 4A and 5A, the lever 120 is provided on the front face of the
cartridge. More specifically, one end in the -Z direction (a lower end in this em
bodiment) of the lever 120 is attached to one end in the +Z direction (an upper end in
this embodiment) of the board mount portion 180. The lever 120 is extended from its
end in the -Z direction (its lower end in this embodiment) toward the +Z direction (a
upward direction in this embodiment). The lever 120 has elasticity, and is elastically
deformed in the X-axis direction by an external force. The lever 120 includes the en
gagement projection 124 and the engagement release element 122. The engagement
projection 124 engages with a corresponding engagement element of the holder 20
(discussed later) to restrict the motion of the cartridge 10 in the height direction. The
engagement release element 122, to which an external force is applied by the user, is
used to disengage the engagement projection 124 from the holder 20. The engagement
release element 122 has a first side face 122t opposed to the front face 103 and a
second side face 122u opposite to the first side face 122t. The second side face 122u is
inclined to approach a pivot 166w (discussed below) from the free end to the base
portion of the lever 120 in the state where the first side face 122t abuts against the front
face 103. Such inclination of the second side face 122u may be hereinafter referred to
as 'downward inclination'.
[0066] As shown in Figs. 4A, 4C and 5A, an engagement projection 160 is formed on the
rear face 104 at a position lower than half the height of the rear face 104 in the Z
direction (vertical direction in this embodiment). The engagement projection 160 is
used to restrict the motion of the cartridge 10 after the cartridge 10 is attached to the
holder 20. The engagement projection 160 has a width Wt.
[0067] The rear face 104 has the pivot 166w, which comes into contact with the holder 20
and serves as the point of rotation when the cartridge 10 is detached from the holder 20
by pivotal rotation. The pivot 166w is positioned in the minus direction (downward
direction in this embodiment) from the position (engagement point) where the en
gagement projection 124 engages with the holder 20 with regard to the Z direction
(vertical direction in this embodiment). The pivot 166w is thus located in the -Z
direction from the position (engagement point) where the engagement projection 124
engages with the holder 20. In other words, the pivot 166w is positioned in the minus
direction (downward direction in this embodiment) from the engagement release
element 122 with regard to the Z direction (vertical direction in this embodiment). The
pivot 166w is thus located in the -Z direction from the engagement release element
122. An air open hole (not shown) is formed in the rear face 104 to introduce the air
with consumption of ink in the ink chamber 108.
[0068] Figs. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams of the circuit board 400. Fig. 6A shows
the surface structure of the circuit board 400. Fig. 6B shows the side face of the circuit
board 400. The surface of the circuit board 400 is exposed to outside, when being
attached to the cartridge 10. The arrow SD shown in Fig. 6A indicates the attachment
or insertion direction of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20. The attachment direction SD
is the -Z direction.
[0069] As shown in Fig. 6A, a boss groove 401 is formed on the upper end of the circuit
board 400, and a boss hole 402 is formed in the lower end portion of the circuit board
400. The circuit board 400 has a terminal group consisting of nine terminals 410 to 490
arranged on the board surface, and a memory device 403. The memory device 403
disposed on the rear face stores various pieces of information on the ink of the
cartridge 10 (for example, information on the remaining amount of ink and the ink
color). The terminals 410 to 490 are formed in substantially rectangular shape and are
arranged in two rows substantially perpendicular to the Z axis (i.e., the attachment
direction SD). Out of the two rows, a first row on the -Z-direction side (back side of
the attachment direction SD), i.e., on the lower side of Fig. 6A, is called a lower row,
and a second row on the +Z-direction side (front side of the attachment direction SD),
i.e., on the upper side of Fig. 6A, is called an upper row. The 'first row on the -
Z-direction side' means a row at the position advancing in the -Z direction out of the
two rows. The 'second row on the +Z-direction side' means a row at the position
advancing in the +Z direction out of the two rows. Since the circuit board 400 on the
cartridge 10 has inclined orientation, these two rows also have different positions in the
X direction but are here defined by only the positional relation with regard to the Z
direction.
[0070] Each of the terminals 410 to 490 has a contact portion 'cp' on its center, which comes
into contact with a corresponding terminal among apparatus-side terminals provided in
the holder 20. The contact portions 'cp' of the terminals 410 to 440 in the upper row
and the contact portions 'cp' of the terminals 450 to 490 in the lower row are alternately
disposed to form a zigzag arrangement. The terminals 410 to 440 in the upper row and
the terminals 450 to 490 in the lower row are also alternately disposed to form a zigzag
arrangement, in such a manner as to prevent the terminal centers from aligning in the
attachment direction SD. The circuit board 400 is attached to the cartridge 10, such that
the row of terminals closer to the cutout groove 140 of the cartridge 10 includes a
greater number of the contact portions 'cp'. In other words, the circuit board 400 is
attached to the cartridge 10, such that the second row is located in the -Z direction
from the first row (in this embodiment, such that the lower row is located at the lower
position than the upper row in the height direction of the cartridge 10).
[0071] The terminals 410 to 440 in the upper row and the terminals 450 to 490 in the lower
row may respectively have the following functions (applications):
Upper Row:
(1) overvoltage detection terminal 410
(2) reset terminal 420 (low voltage terminal)
(3) clock terminal 430 (low voltage terminal)
(4) overvoltage detection terminal 440
Lower Row;
(5) attachment detection terminal 450 (high voltage terminal)
(6) power supply terminal 460 (low voltage terminal)
(7) ground terminal 470
(8) data terminal 480 (low voltage terminal)
(9) attachment detection terminal 490 (high voltage terminal)
[0072] The pair of overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440 are used to detect an ab
normally high voltage value (called 'overvoltage'). The pair of attachment detection
terminals 450 and 490 are used to detect the normal attachment or failed attachment of
the cartridge. The overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440 may be used for a t
tachment detection, in addition to the overvoltage detection. In this embodiment, a
higher voltage (rated voltage of 42 V or rated voltage of 36 V) than the power supply
voltage (rated voltage of 3.3 V) for the memory device 403 is applied to the attachment
detection terminals 450 and 490. The attachment detection terminals 450 and 490 are
accordingly called 'high voltage terminals' or 'high voltage-applying terminals'. The
other five terminals 420, 430, 450, 470 and 480 are the terminals for the memory
device 403. Among these five terminals, the lower voltage (rated voltage of 3.3 V)
than the voltage applied to the high voltage terminals 450 and 490 is applied to the four
terminals 420, 430, 460 and 480 other than the ground terminal 470. These four
terminals 420, 430, 460 and 480 are accordingly called 'low voltage terminals' or 'low
voltage-applying terminals'. The terminals 410 to 490 provided on the board surface of
the circuit board 400 are also called 'cartridge-side terminals'. In this embodiment, the
respective cartridge-side terminals are arranged at substantially identical heights from
the board surface of the circuit board 400, although a slight difference in height is
allowable.
The ground terminal 470 is located at such a position that the ground terminal 470 in
tersects with a CA plane when the circuit board 400 is fixed to the cartridge 10 (See
Figs. 4B and 4D). The CA plane is defined by the central axis C of the ink supply pipe
240 of the holder 20 (Figs. 4A, 9 and 15A) and an axis A which goes through the
central axis C and which is parallel to the X axis. The ground terminal 470 is located
on the center of the width in the Y direction of the cartridge 10. The contact portion
'cp' of the ground terminal 470, which comes into contact with a corresponding
apparatus-side ground terminal, is arranged on the center of the width in the Y
direction of the cartridge 10. As discussed previously with reference to Figs. 4A-4D,
the axis in the Z direction going through the center of the ink supply port 110 (the axis
orthogonal to the plane 1lOp extended from the opening face of the ink supply port
110) is also located on the center of the width in the Y direction of the cartridge 10.
When the cartridge 10 is viewed from its front face 103-side, the contact portion 'cp' of
the ground terminal 470 on the circuit board 400 overlaps the axis 11Ox in the Z
direction going through the center of the ink supply port 110. In the illustrated example
of Fig. 6A, the ground terminal 470 has an elongated shape that is longer in the Z
direction than the other terminals on the circuit board 400. This is because the ground
terminal 470 comes into contact with a corresponding apparatus-side terminal before
the other terminals on the circuit board 400 do as discussed later. The longer
dimension of the ground terminal 470 than the other terminals enables the ground
terminal 470 to reliably come into contact with the corresponding apparatus-side
terminal. In another embodiment, all the terminals on the circuit board 400 may have
an identical length. The ground terminal 470 is arranged to go through the center of a
straight line L that connects the contact portion 'cp' of the first attachment detection
terminal 450 (high voltage terminal) with the contact portion 'cp' of the second at
tachment detection terminal 490 (high voltage terminal). The arrangement of the
terminals and their contact portions on the circuit board 400 will be described in more
details, after the explanation on the relation of connection between the controller 40 of
the printing apparatus and the circuit board 400.
[0074] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the electric structure of the circuit board 400 and
the controller 40 of the printing apparatus. The controller 40 of the printing apparatus
includes a power supply circuit 740, a main control circuit 700 and a sub control circuit
800. The power supply circuit 740 includes a first power supply 741 generating a first
power supply voltage VDD and a second power supply 742 generating a second power
supply voltage VHV. The first power supply voltage VDD is a standard power supply
voltage (rated voltage of 3.3 V) used for logic circuits. The second power supply
voltage VHV is a high voltage (for example, rated voltage of 42 V) used for driving a
print head to eject ink. These voltages VDD and VHV are supplied to the sub control
circuit 800 and further to other circuits if necessary. The main control circuit 700
includes a CPU 710 and a memory 720. The sub control circuit 800 includes a memory
control circuit 801 and a cartridge detection circuit 802. The cartridge detection circuit
802 includes an overvoltage detection circuit 804 (a short detection circuit). The circuit
including the main control circuit 700 and the sub control circuit as a whole may be
called 'control circuit'.
[0075] Among the nine terminals 410 to 490 provided on the circuit board 400 of the
cartridge (Fig. 6A), the reset terminal 420, the clock terminal 430, the power supply
terminal 460, the ground terminal 470 and the data terminal 480 are electrically
connected with the memory device 403. The memory device 403 is a non-volatile
memory without an address terminal, which is configured to determine a memory cell
to be accessed based on the number of pulses of a clock signal SCK input from the
clock terminal and command data input from the data terminal, and to receive data at
the data terminal or send data from the data terminal in synchronism with the clock
signal SCK. The clock terminal 430 is used to supply the clock signal SCK from the
sub control circuit 800 to the memory device 403. The printing apparatus supplies a
power supply voltage (for example, rated voltage of 3.3 V) and a ground voltage (0 V)
to the power supply terminal 460 and to the ground terminal 470, respectively. The
data terminal 480 is used to transmit a data signal SDA between the sub control circuit
800 and the memory device 403. The reset terminal 420 is used to supply a reset signal
RST from the sub control circuit 800 to the memory device 403.
[0076] In addition to the memory device 403 and the nine terminals 410 to 490, the circuit
board 400 further has a resistance element 404 used for detecting attachment of each
individual cartridge. The cartridge detection circuit 802 measures the current value or
the voltage value of a circuit including the resistance element 404 to detect the normal
attachment or failed attachment of each cartridge. The high voltage VHV of the second
power supply 742 (for example, rated voltage of 42 V) is applied to the resistance
element 404. The overvoltage detection circuit 804 detects whether an overvoltage
(abnormally high voltage) is applied to the overvoltage detection terminals 410 and
440. The overvoltage detection circuit 804 also serves to notify the power supply
circuit 740 of detection of an overvoltage, thereby causing the second power supply
742 to stop the supply of the high voltage VHV. The two overvoltage detection
terminals 410 and 440 are connected with each other by wiring on the circuit board
400. Part of the wiring for this connection may be replaced by a resistance. The state of
connection of two terminals by wiring is called 'short connection' or 'conductor
connection'. The short connection by wiring is different from unintentional short
circuit.
[0077] The respective line paths in Fig. 7, which connect apparatus-side terminals 510 to
590 with the corresponding terminals 410 to 490 on the circuit board 400, are
expressed by line names SCK, VDD, SDA, RST, OV1, OV2, DTI and DT2. Among
these line names, those of the line paths for the memory device are the same names as
the signal names. The cartridge detection circuit 802 and the resistance element 404 of
the cartridge forms a high voltage circuit operating at the higher voltage (rated voltage
of 42 V in this embodiment) than the operating voltage of the memory device 403. The
resistance element 404 is a high voltage device, to which the high voltage VHV is
applied from the cartridge detection circuit 802. The high voltage device provided on
the circuit board 400 is not limited to the resistance element 404 but may be any of
other various devices, elements and circuits. For example, a sensor used for detecting
the remaining amount of ink, a capacitance, a coil, and a circuit structured as a com
bination thereof may be applicable as the high-voltage device.
[0078] As shown in Fig. 6A, the lower row (i.e., the first row on the -Z-direction side) of the
contact portions on the circuit board 400 includes the contact portion 'cp' of the ground
terminal 470, the first contact portions 'cp' of the pair of high voltage terminals 450 and
490, and the second contact portions 'cp' of the pair of first low voltage terminals 460
and 480. The upper row (i.e., the second row on the +Z-direction side) includes the
third contact portions 'cp' of the pair of overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440
and the fourth contact portions 'cp' of the second low voltage terminals 420 and 430. In
the upper row (second row), the third contact portions 'cp' of the pair of overvoltage
detection terminals 410 and 440 are located at the outer most positions. The fourth
contact portions 'cp' of the second low voltage terminals 420 and 430 are located
between the third contact portions 'cp' of the pair of overvoltage detection terminals
410 and 440. The third contact portion 'cp' of the overvoltage detection terminal 410
(or 440) is arranged to be located in the Y direction between the first contact portion
'cp' of the high voltage terminal 450 (or 490) and the second contact portion 'cp' of the
adjacent first low voltage terminal 460 (or 480).
[0079] Figs. 8A through 8D and Fig. 9 show the detailed structures of the holder 20. Figs.
8A and 8B are perspective views showing the appearance of the holder 20. For the
simplicity of explanation, the outer circumferential wall forming the holder 20 is partly
omitted in Fig. 8B. Fig. 8C shows an opposed face wall portion 25c when viewed from
the positive direction of the X axis. Fig. 8D is a partial close-up of Fig. 8C. Fig. 9
shows a C-C cross section of Fig. 8A.
[0080] As shown in Fig. 8A, the holder 20 is formed in a concave shape having an open end
to enable attachment and detachment of the cartridges 10. The holder 20 includes an
apparatus-side bottom face wall portion (also called 'bottom face portion') 25a, an en
gagement element-side face wall portion (also called 'front face portion') 25b, an
opposed face wall portion (also called 'rear face portion') 25c, a first apparatus-side
side face wall portion (also called 'left side face portion') 25e and a second apparatusside
side face wall portion (also called 'right side face portion') 25f. These face wall
portions 25a to 25f define a cartridge housing for accommodating the cartridges 10.
Each of the respective face wall portions 25a to 25f is made of a synthetic resin, such
as polycarbonate.
[0081] The apparatus-side bottom face wall portion 25a forms the bottom face when the
printing apparatus is in a state of use. The opposed face wall portion 25c, the en
gagement element-side face wall portion 25b, the first apparatus-side side face wall
portion 25e and the second apparatus-side side face wall portion 25f are upright from
the apparatus-side bottom face wall portion 25a. The opposed face wall portion 25c
and the engagement element-side face wall portion 25b are opposed to each other. The
first apparatus-side side face wall portion 25e and the second apparatus-side side face
wall portion 25f are opposed to each other.
[0082] The ink supply pipes 240 and the seal members 242 are attached to the apparatusside
bottom face wall portion 25a. One end of each ink supply pipe 240 is connected
with the print head 32 (Fig. 1), which is attached to the rear face of the apparatus-side
bottom face wall portion 25a (i.e., the face in the negative direction of the Z axis). In
the state where the cartridge 10 is attached to the holder 20, the other end of the ink
supply pipe 240 is connected with the ink supply port 110 of the cartridge 10 (Fig.
4A). The seal member 242 is made of an elastic material, such as synthetic rubber. The
seal member 242 is placed around the ink supply pipe 240 to seal the ink supply port
110, thereby preventing leakage of ink when the cartridge 10 is attached to the holder
20. As shown in Fig. 9, the other end of the ink supply pipe 240 has a porous metal
filter 240t, which partly comes into contact with the foam 112 in the ink supply port
110 (Fig. 5A). The filter 240 may be made of stainless steel mesh or non-woven
stainless steel. The filter 240t may be omitted if unnecessary.
[0083] As shown in Fig. 8B, four through holes 290 (only three are illustrated) and four
fitting ribs 270 (only three are illustrated) are provided on the apparatus-side bottom
face wall portion 25a, corresponding to the number (four) of the cartridges 10 to be
attached. Four terminal blocks 500 (only three are illustrated) are further disposed on
the apparatus-side bottom face wall portion 25a, corresponding to the number of the
cartridges 10 to be attached. The terminal block 500 is a base having a plurality of
apparatus-side terminals, and may be also called 'contact mechanism'.
[0084] The through hole 290 is used by the optical detector 90 (Figs. 5B and 5C), located
below the holder 20, for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge 10.
More specifically, the through hole 290 is formed to ensure transmission of the light
emitted from the optical detector 90, as well as transmission of the light reflected from
the cartridge 10.
[0085] The fitting rib 270 is tapered toward its end (in the +Z direction, i.e., upward
direction in this embodiment). The fitting rib 270 is inserted and fit in the cutout
groove 140 of the cartridge 10 (Fig. 5A), in order to align the cartridge 10. The fitting
rib 270 is also called 'positioning rib' or 'control pin'. The fitting rib 270 may be formed
integrally with the holder 20 like this embodiment or may be provided as a separate
member and attached to the apparatus-side bottom face wall portion 25a.
[0086] The holder 20 further has an apparatus-side engagement element 260 arranged
adjacent to the engagement element-side face wall portion 25b. The apparatus-side en
gagement element 260 is located at a predetermined height from the apparatus-side
bottom face wall portion 25a. The apparatus-side engagement element 260 engages
with the engagement projection 124 of the cartridge 10 (Fig. 4B) to restrict the motion
of the attached cartridge in the height direction.
[0087] As shown in Fig. 8C, the opposed face wall portion 25c has an upright wall element
216, guide grooves 200t and engagement holes 202 formed in the upright wall element
216. In the use orientation, the upright wall element 216 is extended in the +Z direction
(upward direction in this embodiment) from the apparatus-side bottom face wall
portion 25a. The upright wall element 216 includes an opposed face 216u, an extended
face 216t and an upper face 216s in this sequence from the bottom. In the use or i
entation, the opposed face 216u is extended in the +Z direction (vertically upward
direction in this embodiment) from the apparatus-side bottom face wall portion 25a. In
other words, in the attached state of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20, the opposed face
216u forms a plane substantially parallel to the outer surface of the rear face 104 of the
cartridge 10 (Fig. 4A). For the better understanding, the opposed face 216u is singlehatched.
[0088] The extended face 216t is extended toward outside of the holder 20 from the upper
end of the opposed face 216u. In other words, in the attached state, the extended face
216t is extended in the direction away from the outer surface of the rear face 104 of the
cartridge 10 (Fig. 4A). In this embodiment, the extended face 216t forms an inclined
surface relative to the Z direction. The opposed face wall portion 25c further has a
pivot 216w corresponding to the pivot 166w of the cartridge 10. The pivot 216w is
defined by the boundary between the opposed face 216u and the extended face 216t. In
other words, the pivot 216w is located at an end in the +Z direction (upper end in this
embodiment) of the opposed face 216u.
[0089] In the use orientation of the holder 20, the upper face 216s is extended upward from
the upper end of the extended face 216t. Like the extended face 216t, the upper face
216s is inclined relative to the Z direction.
[0090] As shown in Fig. 9, such arrangement of the opposed face 216u, the extended face
216t and the upper face 216s defines a space 216sp, which receives part of the
cartridge 10 in the course of detachment of the cartridge 10 by pivotal rotation.
[0091] Referring back to Figs. 8C and 8D, the engagement projection 160 of the cartridge 10
(Fig. 4A) is inserted into the substantially rectangular engagement hole 202. Such
insertion restricts the motions of the cartridge 10 in the Y direction (width direction)
and in the Z direction (height direction) within a preset range in the attached state. A
width Wb in the Y direction of the engagement hole 202 is substantially equal to the
width Wt in the Y direction of the engagement projection 160 of the cartridge 10. The
cartridge 10 is attached to and detached from the holder 20 by pivotal rotation as
discussed later. The clearance in the Z direction (height direction) between the en
gagement hole 202 of the holder 20 and the engagement projection 160 of the cartridge
(Fig. 4C) is thus designed to be greater than the clearance in the Y direction (width
direction) in the attached state.
[0092] In the process of attachment of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20, the guide groove
200t guides the engagement projection 160 to the engagement hole 202, while r e
stricting the motion of the cartridge 10 in the Y direction (width direction). As shown
in Fig. 8D, the guide groove 200t is extended from one end in the +Z direction (upper
end in this embodiment) of the opposed face wall portion 25c to the engagement hole
202. For the better understanding, the engagement hole 202 is single-hatched.
[0093] A width Wa of an end portion 200ta in the +Z direction (upper end) of the guide
groove 200t is greater than the width Wb in the Y direction of an end portion 200tb in
the -Z direction (lower end). The width Wa of the end portion 200ta in the +Z direction
(upper end) is greater than the width Wt in the Y direction of the engagement
projection 160 of the cartridge 10 (Fig. 4C). The width in the Y direction of the guide
groove 200t monotonously decreases from the end portion 200ta in the +Z direction
(upper end) toward the end portion 200tb in the -Z direction (lower end) (i.e., toward
the engagement hole 202). More specifically, the guide groove 200t includes a tapered
lower guide groove 200tu having the width gradually decreasing toward the en
gagement hole 202. The broken line shows the boundary between the lower guide
groove 200tu and the remaining part of the guide groove 200t.
[0094] As shown in Fig. 8C, the opposed face wall portion 25c further has deformable
portions 212 that are elastically deformable in the depth direction (X-axis direction) of
the guide grooves 200t. More specifically, the deformable portion 212 is formed by
making cutouts 214 on both ends of a wall element 213 forming the bottom face of the
guide groove 200t. This deformable portion 212 is extended from the lower end of the
wall element 213, which is in contact with the engagement hole 202, to the higher
position. More specifically, the deformable portion 212 is extended to the higher
position than the intersection of the wall element 213 and the rotation trajectory of the
engagement projection 160 (Fig. 5A) in the course of attachment of the cartridge 10.
The details will be discussed later.
[0095] Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the terminal block 500 provided in the holder
20. A plurality of electric contact members 510 to 590 are provided on an inclined
surface 502 of the terminal block 500. The inclined surface 502 is substantially parallel
to the circuit board 400 (i.e., substantially parallel to the inclined surface of the board
mount portion 180 shown in Fig. 3) in the normal attached state of the cartridge 10.
The plurality of electric contact members 510 to 590 are equivalent to the apparatusside
terminals corresponding to the terminals 410 to 490 on the circuit board 400 (Fig.
6A). Each of the apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590 is made of a spring-loaded
material (elastic material) and has elastic force, which presses back in an obliquely
upward direction (i.e., direction between the -X direction and the +Z direction) against
the pressing force of the corresponding one of the terminals 410 to 490. The elastic
force of the apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590 actually acts in the oblique direction
(i.e., direction between the -X direction and the +Z direction). The elastic force has a
vector component in the +Z direction and can thus be regarded as the elastic force in
the +Z direction. The pressing force in the oblique direction (i.e., direction between the
-X direction and the +Z direction) actually acts on each of the terminals 410 to 490
pressed against the corresponding one of the apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590. This
pressing force has a vector component in the +Z direction, so that it is regarded that the
terminals 410 to 490 are pressed in the +Z direction. The apparatus-side ground
terminal 570 located on the center of the lower row is protruded to a greater height in
the +Z direction from the inclined surface 502 than the other apparatus-side terminals
510 to 560, 580 and 590. In the process of attachment of the cartridge 10 to the holder
20, this terminal 570 comes into contact with the corresponding board-side terminal
before the other apparatus-side terminals do. In other words, among the terminals 410
to 490 on the circuit board 400 (Fig. 6A), the ground terminal 470 comes into contact
with the corresponding apparatus-side terminal before the other board-side terminals
do. As discussed previously with reference to Fig. 6A, the ground terminal 470 is
longer in the -Z direction (i.e., attachment direction SD) than the other terminals. This
arrangement enables the ground terminal 470 to reliably come into contact with the
corresponding apparatus-side terminal, even when the ground terminal 470 comes into
contact with the corresponding apparatus-side terminal prior to the other terminals on
the circuit board 400.
[0096] Figs. 11A and 1IB show attachment of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20. Figs. 11A
and 1IB each shows a G-G cross section of the cartridge 10 shown in Fig. 4B and a
cross section of the holder 20 corresponding to the G-G cross section. As shown in Fig.
11A, the standard attachment procedure tilts the cartridge 10 to bring the engagement
projection 160 on its rear face 104 into contact with the opposed face wall portion 25c
and attach the cartridge 10 to the holder 20. More specifically, the cartridge 10 is
moved in the -Z direction (vertically downward direction in this embodiment) shown
by the arrow SD, while inserting its engagement projection 160 into the guide groove
200t (Fig. 8D). Since the width Wa of the upper end of the guide groove 200t is greater
than the width Wt of the engagement projection 160 of the cartridge 10, the en
gagement projection 160 is readily inserted into the guide groove 200t.
[0097] As shown in Fig. 1IB, the engagement projection 160 of the cartridge 10 moves to
the position coming into contact with the deformable portion 212 and applies an
external force, whereby the deformable portion 212 elastically deforms outward
(negative direction of the X axis or -X direction). The elastic deformation of the de
formable portion 212 enables the cartridge 10 to be smoothly attached to the holder 20.
The elastic deformation of the deformable portion 212 is, however, not essential. The
attachment and the detachment of the cartridge may be implemented without the elastic
deformation of the deformable portion 212.
[0098] Figs. 12A and 12B further show attachment of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20. Like
Figs. 11A and 1IB, Fig. 12A shows the G-G cross section of the cartridge 10 shown in
Fig. 4B and the cross section of the holder 20 corresponding to the G-G cross section.
Fig. 12B is a perspective view showing the periphery of the fitting rib 270 shown in
Fig. 12A.
[0099] As shown in Fig. 12A, when the cartridge 10 is further moved in the -Z direction
(vertically downward direction in this embodiment), the engagement projection 160 is
guided along the guide groove 200t and is readily inserted into the engagement hole
202. In this state, the engagement projection 124 of the cartridge 10 does not engage
with the apparatus-side engagement element 260 of the holder 20.
[0100] When the engagement projection 160 enters the engagement hole 202, as shown in
Fig. 12B, the fitting rib 270 of the holder 20 is inserted and fit in the cutout groove 140
(fitting recess) of the cartridge 10. In this state, the front face 103 of the cartridge 10 is
pressed in the -Z direction (vertically downward direction in this embodiment), so that
the engagement projection 124 engages with the apparatus-side engagement element
260. During this press-in operation, the motion of the front face 103 of the cartridge 10
having the circuit board 400 attached thereto is restricted by the fit of the fitting rib 270
in the cutout groove 140. This arrangement ensures accurate positioning and alignment
of the cartridge 10 relative to the holder 20. The accurate positioning and alignment
reduces the possibility that a contact failure occurs between the respective elements
410 to 490 on the circuit board 400 of the cartridge 10 (Fig. 6A) and the corresponding
apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590 on the terminal block 500 after the attachment.
[0101] As discussed previously with reference to Fig. 8D, the guide groove 200t is extended
from the end in the +Z direction (upper end in this embodiment) of the opposed face
wall portion 25c toward the engagement hole 202. The engagement projection 160 is
thus readily guided along the guide groove 200t to the engagement hole 202. E s
pecially the lower guide groove 200tu of the guide groove 200t contributes to smoothly
guiding the engagement projection 160 into the engagement hole 202.
[0102] Figs. 13A-13C show the process that the apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590 on the
terminal block 500 come into contact with the corresponding terminals on the board
400 in the course of attachment of the cartridge 10. In the state prior to Figs. 13A to
13C, the engagement projection 160 formed on the rear face (left end in the drawing)
of the cartridge 10 has been inserted in the engagement hole 202 of the holder 20. The
rear face of the cartridge 10 is, however, omitted from the illustration. Fig. 13A shows
the state where only one of the apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590, i.e., the apparatusside
ground terminal 570, comes into contact with the corresponding ground terminal
470 on the board 400 (Fig. 6A). As discussed previously, this apparatus-side terminal
570 is protruded to the greater height in the +Z direction from the inclined surface 502
of the terminal block 500 (Fig. 10) than the other terminals 510 to 560, 580 and 590. In
the state where only this apparatus-side terminal 570 comes into contact with the corre
sponding terminal on the board 400, the other apparatus-side terminals do not come
into contact with the respective corresponding terminals on the board 400. As the user
keeps pressing the cartridge 10, the other apparatus-side terminals 510 to 560, 580 and
590 come into contact with the respective corresponding terminals on the board 400 as
shown in Fig. 13B. As the user further presses the cartridge 10, the cartridge 10 is fully
attached to the holder 20 as shown in Fig. 13C. In this state, the engagement projection
124 of the lever 120 engages with a face in the -Z direction (lower face in this em
bodiment) of the apparatus-side engagement element 260, so as to prevent the motion
of the cartridge 10 in the +Z direction (upward direction in this embodiment).
[0103] As explained above, among the plurality of terminals 410 to 490 on the circuit board
400, the ground terminal 470 first comes into contact with the corresponding
apparatus-side terminal in the course of attachment of the cartridge 10. In the course of
attachment of the cartridge 10, there is some possibility that some foreign substance,
such as dust or ink, adheres to the terminal(s). Adhesion of the foreign substance to the
terminal(s) may cause application of an unexpectedly high voltage from the high
voltage terminal among the apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590 (for example, the
apparatus-side attachment detection terminal 550) to the low voltage terminal among
the terminals 410 to 490 on the circuit board 400 (for example, the terminal 420, 430,
460, 470 or 480). In the structure of this embodiment, however, the ground terminal
470 among the plurality of terminals 410 to 490 on the circuit board 400 first comes
into contact with the corresponding apparatus-side terminal. Even in the case of
external application of an unexpectedly high voltage to the circuit board 400, the
grounding function of the ground terminal 470 immediately lowers the voltage level.
This arrangement thus effectively reduces the possibility that an unexpectedly high
voltage is applied to the circuit element on the circuit board 400 (e.g., the memory
device 403).
[0104] Figs. 14A-14E show various states where some foreign substance, such as dust or
ink, adheres to the circuit board 400. As discussed previously with reference to Fig.
6A, the plurality of contact portions 'cp' are arrayed in the two rows parallel to the Y
direction on the circuit board 400. The lower row (first row on the -Z-direction side)
includes the contact portion 'cp' of the ground terminal 470, the first contact portions
'cp' of the pair of high voltage terminals 450 and 490 and the second contact portions
'cp' of the pair of first low voltage terminals 460 and 480. The upper row (i.e., the
second row on the +Z-direction side) includes the third contact portions 'cp' of the pair
of overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440 and the fourth contact portions 'cp' of
the second low voltage terminals 420 and 430. In the upper row (second row), the third
contact portions 'cp' of the pair of overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440 are
located at the outer most positions. The fourth contact portions 'cp' of the second low
voltage terminals 420 and 430 are located between the third contact portions 'cp' of the
pair of overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440. The third contact portion 'cp' of
the overvoltage detection terminal 410 (or 440) is arranged to be located in the Y
direction between the first contact portion 'cp' of the high voltage terminal 450 (or 490)
and the second contact portion 'cp' of the adjacent first low voltage terminal 460 (or
480). This arrangement of the contact portions 'cp' has the following advantageous
effects when some foreign substance, such as dust or ink, adheres to the circuit board
400 in the various states shown in Figs. 14A to 14E.
[0105] Fig. 14A shows the state where foreign substance adheres over the high voltage
terminal 450, the low voltage terminal 460 and the ground terminal 470 in the lower
row. According to the positional relation in the Y direction, the contact portion 'cp' of
the low voltage terminal 460 is located between the contact portion 'cp' of the high
voltage terminal 450 and the contact portion 'cp' of the ground terminal 470. Even
when dust or ink adheres across the high voltage terminal 450 and the low voltage
terminal 460 to apply a high voltage to the low voltage terminal 460 as in the state of
Fig. 14A, the contact portion 'cp' of the ground terminal 470 comes into contact with
the corresponding apparatus-side ground terminal prior to the other board-side
terminals 450 and 470. This arrangement reduces the possibility that an unexpected
high voltage is applied to the low voltage terminal 460, thus protecting the circuitry
connected with the low voltage terminal 460 from being damaged or destroyed.
[0106] Fig. 14B shows the state where foreign substance adheres over the high voltage
terminal 450, the overvoltage detection terminal 410 and the low voltage terminal 420.
According to the positional relation in the Y direction, the contact portions 'cp' of the
pair of overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440 are located between the contact
portions 'cp' of the pair of high voltage terminals 450 and 490. The contact portions 'cp'
of the low voltage terminals 420, 430, 460 and 480 are located between the contact
portions 'cp' of the pair of overvoltage detection terminals 410 and 440. Even when
dust or ink adheres across the high voltage terminal 450 and the low voltage terminal
420 to apply a high voltage to the low voltage terminal 420 as in the state of Fig. 14B,
the overvoltage detection terminal 410 interposed between the high voltage terminal
450 and the low voltage terminal 420 detects the state of overvoltage application and
stops the application of high voltage. This arrangement reduces the possibility that an
unexpected high voltage is applied to the low voltage terminal 420, thus protecting the
circuitry connected with the low voltage terminal 420 from being damaged or
destroyed. In the case where the low voltage terminal 420 is connected with a memory
device, this arrangement protects the memory device from being damaged.
[0107] Fig. 14C shows the state where foreign substance adheres over the high voltage
terminal 450, the overvoltage detection terminal 410 and the low voltage terminal 460.
In this state, because of the same reason explained above with regard to the state of
Fig. 14B, the terminal arrangement reduces the possibility that an unexpected high
voltage is applied to the low voltage terminal 460, thus protecting the circuitry
connected with the low voltage terminal 460 from being damaged or destroyed.
[0108] Fig. 14D shows the state where foreign substance adheres over a wide area including
the high voltage terminal 450, the overvoltage detection terminal 410, the low voltage
terminals 420, 430, 460 and 480 and the ground terminal 470. In this state, because of
the same reason explained above with regard to the state of Fig. 14B, the terminal ar
rangement reduces the possibility that an unexpected high voltage is applied to any of
the low voltage terminals 420, 430, 460 and 480, thus protecting the circuitry
connected with any of the low voltage terminals 420, 430, 460 and 480 from being
damaged or destroyed.
[0109] Dust or ink may adhere to the circuit board 400 in various directions and over
various areas. As discussed above in the states of Figs. 14B to 14D, when dust or ink
adheres across the high voltage terminal and the low voltage terminal, there is a high
probability that the adhesion area of dust or ink includes the overvoltage detection
terminal 410 (or 440). The effects discussed above with reference to Figs. 14B to Fig.
14D are thus expected with significantly high probability.
[0110] Fig. 14E shows the state where long, thin foreign substance adheres over the high
voltage terminal 450, the low voltage terminals 460 and 480 and the ground terminal
470 in the lower row. In the case where dust adheres to a substantially straight area in
the Y direction that does not include the overvoltage detection terminal 410 (or 440),
the effects discussed above with reference to Figs. 14B to Fig. 14D are not expected.
For example, a long thin metal strip like a staple may adhere across the high voltage
terminal 450 and the low voltage terminals 460 and 480 but not across the overvoltage
detection terminal 410 (or 440). There is, however, a high probability that the adhesion
area of such long, thin dust includes the ground terminal 470. As long as the adhesion
area of dust covers the ground terminal 470, the arrangement of causing the ground
terminal 470 to come into contact with the corresponding apparatus-side ground
terminal 570 prior to the other board-side terminals effectively lowers the possibility
that an unexpectedly high voltage is applied to the low voltage terminals 460 and 480.
[0111] As discussed above, even when dust or ink adheres to the circuit board 400 in any of
these states, the terminal arrangement prevents the circuitry from being damaged (or
prevents the memory device from being damaged when the low voltage terminal is
connected with the memory device) by application of an unexpectedly high voltage,
with significantly high probability.
[0112] Adhesion of dust or ink may cause a short circuit between the high voltage terminal
and the low voltage terminal and lead to apply an unexpectedly high voltage to the low
voltage terminal. Apparently there seems to be no need to give consideration to the p o
sitional relation of the 'contact portions', as long as the positional relation of the
'terminals' on the circuit board is adequately determined. In the actual state, however,
small clearances are present between the contact portions on the circuit board and the
terminals on the printing apparatus and their peripheries and tend to suck the ink by
capillarity. When the contact portions on the circuit board come into contact with the
terminals on the printing apparatus, the friction-induced static electricity tends to suck
the dust. As such, it is important to give consideration to the positional relation of the
contact portions on the circuit board. As long as sufficient consideration is given to the
positional relation of the contact portions on the circuit board, there is a certain degree
of freedom in designing the shapes of the terminals including the contact portions. This
increases the degree of freedom in designing the shapes of the terminals on the circuit
board. For example, as discussed later with reference to Figs. 30A-30C, only the
shapes of the terminals may be changed, while the positional relation of the contact
portions is kept in the same state as Fig. 6A.
[0113] The shapes and the arrangement of the terminals 410 to 490 and their contact
portions 'cp' on the circuit board 400 shown in Figs. 6A and 14A-14E may be modified
or altered in various ways. In another embodiment, part of the plurality of terminals
410 to 490 (for example, the low voltage terminals 420, 430, 460 and 470) may be
omitted. More specifically, one of the multiple low voltage terminals may be omitted
from each of the upper row and the lower row, so that only one low voltage terminal
may remain in each of the upper row and the lower row. In another embodiment, the
plurality of terminals and their contact portions may be aligned or may be arrayed in
three or more rows on the circuit board 400. The terminals and their contact portions
may be not arranged in rows but may be placed according to another pattern or ar
rangement.
[0114] The present embodiment has various features which are devised to ensure attachment
of the cartridge in the correct orientation or alignment. The ground terminal 470 is
located at such a position that intersects with the CA plane in the state of the circuit
board 400 fixed to the cartridge 10 (Figs. 4B and 4D). This CA plane is defined by the
central axis C and the axis A which goes through the central axis C of the ink supply
pipe 240 of the holder or cartridge attachment section 20 (Fig. 4A) and which is
parallel to the X axis. The ground terminal 470, whose contact portion first comes into
contact the corresponding apparatus-side terminal, is located on the center of the width
in the Y direction of the cartridge 10 (i.e., in the Y direction of Fig. 4B). The force
applied from the apparatus-side ground terminal 570 to the ground terminal 470 and
the cartridge 10 accordingly acts on the center of the width of the cartridge 10. In other
words, substantially no force is applied from the apparatus-side ground terminal 570 to
tilt the cartridge 10 leftward or rightward. This arrangement thus ensures attachment of
the cartridge 10 in the correct orientation. In this embodiment, when the cartridge 10 is
viewed from its front side (Fig. 4B), the contact portion of the ground terminal 470 on
the circuit board 400 overlaps the axis 11Ox in the Z direction going through the center
of the ink supply port 110 (Fig. 4A). The force in the +Z direction (upward direction in
this embodiment) is applied from the ink supply pipe 240 and the elastic member 242
of the holder 20 (Fig. 7) to the ink supply port 110. Since the contact portion of the
ground terminal 470 on the circuit board 400 overlaps the axis 11Ox in the Z direction
going through the center of the ink supply port 110, the ink supply port 110 as well as
the ground terminal 470 receives the force applied from the apparatus-side ground
terminal 570 on the center of the width in the Y direction of the cartridge 10 in the
course of attachment of the cartridge 10. Accordingly, substantially no force acts to tilt
the cartridge 10 in the SYMBOL 177 \f "Symbol" \s 12Y directions (leftward and
rightward directions in this embodiment) about the X axis or about the Z axis in the
middle of attachment of the cartridge 10. The cartridge 10 may thus be attached to the
holder 20 in the correct orientation or alignment.
[01 15] Figs. 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams of the cartridge in the attached state.
Like Figs. 11A and 1IB, Fig. 15A shows the G-G cross section of the cartridge 10
shown in Fig. 4B and the cross section of the holder 20 corresponding to the G-G cross
section. Fig. 15B is a perspective view of the cartridge 10 in the attached state. The
dotted area of Fig. 15A represents ink stored in the ink chamber 108. As shown in Fig.
15A, in the attached state, the engagement projection 124 of the lever 120 engages
with the apparatus-side engagement element 260, so as to restrict the motion of the
cartridge 10 in the height direction. With regard to the Z direction (vertical direction in
this embodiment) of the holder 20 in the use orientation, the pivot 216w of the opposed
face wall portion 25c is further down in the -Z direction (vertically downward direction
in this embodiment) than an engagement point 124t. When engaged with the
apparatus-side engagement element 260, the lever 120 is closer to the front face 130
than it is in the released or free state. The lever 120 presses the ink container body 100
towards the opposed face wall portion 25c, so as to restrict the motion of the cartridge
10 in the X direction (length direction). In the attached state, the ink supply pipe 240 of
the printing apparatus is connected with the ink supply port 110 of the cartridge 10.
The terminals on the circuit board 400 come into contact with the respective corre
sponding terminals on the terminal block 500, so that various pieces of information, for
example, information on the ink color and the remaining amount of ink, are trans -
mittable between the cartridge 10 and the controller 40 of the printing apparatus (Fig.
1). The remaining amount of ink is detected by the optical detector 90 at predetermined
timings. In the attached state, ink is supplied from the cartridge 10 through the ink
supply port 110 and the ink supply pipe 240 to the print head 32 by means of suction
from the print head 32.
[01 16] In the attached state, the motions of the cartridge 10 are restricted mainly by the en
gagement hole 202, the apparatus-side engagement element 260 and the fitting rib 270
of the holder 20. More specifically, the engagement hole 202 restricts the motions of
the cartridge 10 both in the Y direction (width direction) and in the Z direction (height
direction), while the apparatus-side engagement element 260 restricts the motion in the
height direction and the fitting rib 270 restricts the motion in the width direction.
[01 17] As explained previously, in the course of attachment of the cartridge 10 to the holder
20, there is some possibility that the cartridge 10 is tilted in the SYMBOL 177 \f
"Symbol" \s 12Y directions about the Z axis (directions of arrow YR1) or in the
SYMBOL 177 \f "Symbol" \s 12Y directions about the X axis (directions of arrow
YR2). Such tilt of the cartridge 10 may be reduced to a certain extent by adequately
positioning the ground terminal 470 whose contact portion first comes into contact
with the corresponding apparatus-side terminal, but that may not fully prevent such tilt
of the cartridge 10. During a printing operation, the holder 20 and the cartridge 10
move in the main scanning direction (Y direction or width direction of the cartridge
10). This means that an external force (force of inertia) in the Y direction (width
direction) is applied to the cartridge 10. As shown in Fig. 15B, the cartridge 10 is
rotated in a rotating direction including a Y-direction (width-direction) component
about the ink supply port 110 (Fig. 15A) by application of the external force. More
specifically, the cartridge 10 may be rotated in the SYMBOL 177 \f "Symbol" \s 12Y
directions about the Z axis (directions of arrow YR1) or in the SYMBOL 177 \f
"Symbol" \s 12Y directions about the X axis (directions of arrow YR2). It should be
noted that the circuit board 400 is located on the front face 103-side. It should be
further noted that the cutout groove 140 for restricting the motion in the Y direction
(width direction) is formed at such a position in the X direction that is not on the rear
face 104-side close to the ink supply port 110 but on the front face 103-side away from
the ink supply port 110; this arrangement effectively prevents the circuit board 400
from being moved or shifted relative to the holder 20, compared with the arrangement
where the cutout groove 140 is formed on the rear face 104-side. This arrangement
makes substantially no force which acts to tilt the cartridge 10 in the SYMBOL 177 \f
"Symbol" \s 12Y directions (leftward and rightward directions in this embodiment)
about the X axis or about the Z axis, thus ensuring attachment of the cartridge 10 in the
correct orientation with higher accuracy. This arrangement also enables the electric
connection between the circuit board 400 and the printing apparatus to be kept
favorably in the attached state. As mentioned previously, the circuit board 400 is
located so as to partly overlap with the cutout groove 140 when being projected in the
Z direction (Fig. 4A) in this embodiment. Accordingly, the fit of the fitting rib 270 in
the cutout groove 140 minimizes the motion or shift of the circuit board 400 relative to
the holder 20.
[0118] If a groove is provided in the central area of the bottom face 101 to restrict the
motion of the cartridge 10 in the width direction, some member for forming or defining
the groove is required in the periphery of the groove. In this embodiment, the cutout
groove 140 (engagement recess) is formed at an end of the bottom face 101 to restrict
the motion in the Y direction (width direction). This arrangement contributes to size
reduction of the cartridge 10 in the X direction (length direction).
[0119] The fit of the fitting rib 270 in the cutout groove 140 has the additional effect of restriding
the motion of the prism 170 in the Y direction (width direction). In this em
bodiment, the prism 170 is located at an end proximate to the front face 103 on the
inner surface of the bottom face 101. More specifically, the prism 170 is located to be
in contact with the inner surface of the bottom face 101 having the cutout groove 140
(Fig. 5A). This arrangement minimizes the positional shift of the prism 170 in the Y
direction (width direction) and ensures accurate detection of the remaining amount of
ink. This arrangement also lowers the possibility that the prism 170 blocks the flow of
ink toward the ink supply port 110, thus ensuring efficient ink consumption in the ink
chamber 108 and reducing the amount of ink retention in the ink chamber 108.
[0120] The structure of this embodiment more effectively lowers the possibility that the
cutout groove 140 interferes with the holder 20 in the process of attachment or de
tachment of the cartridge 10 to or from the holder 20, compared with the structure that
the cutout groove 140 is replaced by a fitting projection and the fitting rib 270 is
replaced by a fitting recess. The structure of this embodiment accordingly reduces the
potential for damage or failure of the cartridge 10 or the holder 20.
[0121] Figs. 16A-16D are explanatory diagrams showing a process of detachment of the
cartridge 10 from the holder 20. Fig. 16A shows the G-G cross section of the cartridge
10 shown in Fig. 4B and the cross section of the holder 20 corresponding to the G-G
cross section. When the cartridge 10 is to be detached from the holder 20, the en
gagement release element 122 is elastically deformed in the direction toward the ink
container body 100 (negative direction of the X axis or -X direction). This disengages
the engagement projection 124 from the apparatus-side engagement element 260. The
engagement release element 122 is arranged, such that the second side face 122u is
inclined by a preset angle SYMBOL 113 \f "Symbol" \s 12 relative to the Z direction
when the first side face 122t abuts against the front face 103. Such arrangement of the
engagement release element 122 allows for easy disengagement of the engagement
projection 124 from the apparatus-side engagement element 260 by application of an
external force in the -X direction to the engagement release element 122 and ensures
efficient detachment of the cartridge 10 from the holder 20. This reason is discussed
with reference to Fig. 16B.
[0122] Assume, as shown in Fig. 16B, that an external force F is applied to the engagement
release element 122 in a direction toward the container body or ink container body 100
(negative direction of the X axis or -X direction) to disengage the engagement
projection 124 from the apparatus-side engagement element 260. The external force F
is resolved into a tangential component Fl and a radial component F2 of a circle about
the pivot 216w of the opposed face wall portion 25c. If the second side face 122u is
inclined (downward inclination) such that the lower end of the face 122u is closer to
the pivot 216w in the X direction than its upper end is, this inclination ensures efficient
transmission of the tangential component Fl to the engagement release element 122.
Application of an external force to the engagement release element 122 in the direction
(the -X direction) of disengaging the engagement projection 124 from the apparatusside
engagement element 260 enables the cartridge 10 to be readily rotated in its de
tachment direction (shown by the arrow Rd), while releasing the engagement.
[0123] Figs. 16C and 16D show pivotal rotation of the cartridge 10 about the pivot 216w of
the opposed face wall portion 25c in the course of detachment of the cartridge 10 from
the holder 20. Like Fig. 16A, Figs. 16C and 16D show the G-G cross section of the
cartridge 10 shown in Fig. 4B and the cross section of the holder 20 corresponding to
the G-G cross section. As shown in Fig. 16C, when a specific-direction component
(-X-direction component) of the external force F is applied to the engagement release
element 122, the cartridge 10 is rotated in the direction of the arrow Rd about the pivot
216w of the opposed face wall portion 25c. Since the space 216sp is present on the
+Z-direction side (on the upper side) of the pivot 216w, the holder 20 does not
interfere with the rotating motion of the cartridge 10.
[0124] With progress of the rotating motion, the rear face 104 of the cartridge 10 abuts
against the upper face 216s as shown in Fig. 16D. In this state, the rotating motion is
interfered with by the upper face 216s. The front face 103 side of the cartridge 10 is,
however, lifted up in the +Z direction (vertically upward direction in this embodiment)
relative to the holder 20 to such an extent that the user may readily grab and pick up
the front face 103 side of the cartridge 10.
[0125] As discussed above, the pivot 216w is further down in the -Z-direction (vertically
downward direction in this embodiment) than the engagement point 124t, while the en
gagement release element 122 is further in the +Z direction (vertically upward
direction in this embodiment) than the engagement point 124t (Fig. 15A). By applying
the external force F in the specific direction (-X direction) to the engagement release
element 122 as shown in Fig. 16A, the cartridge 10 is rotated about the pivot 216w and
readily detached from the holder 20. The disengagement of the engagement projection
124 from the apparatus-side engagement element 260 and the detachment of the
cartridge 10 from the holder 20 may thus be implemented by the sequential actions
(Figs. 16A to 16D). This arrangement enhances the user's convenience of detaching the
ink cartridge 10 from the holder 20. The pivot 216w of the holder 20 is readily defined
by the opposed face 216u and the extended face 216t of the opposed face wall portion
25c.
[0126] B. Second Embodiment:
Fig. 17 shows the structure of a holder 20a according to a second embodiment. The
general structure of the printing apparatus and the structure of the ink cartridge 10 of
the second embodiment are the same with those of the first embodiment. Fig. 17 shows
the state in the middle of insertion of the cartridge 10 to the holder 20a. A pair of lon
gitudinal guide members 610 (first sub-guide members) and a pair of lateral guide
members 620 (second sub-guide members) are provided, in addition to the fitting rib
270, in the vicinity of a terminal block 500a located in each slot of the holder 20a. As
discussed above in the first embodiment, the fitting rib 270 also serves as the guide
member to guide the cartridge 10.
[0127] The pair of lateral guide members 620 are located such that the inner surfaces of the
pair of lateral guide members 620 are in contact with the outer surfaces of the pair of
lateral guide wall members 184 of the cartridge 10 (Fig. 3). In the process of attaching
the cartridge 10 to the holder 20a, the outer surfaces of the pair of lateral guide wall
members 184 of the cartridge 10 are guided by the inner surfaces of the pair of lateral
guide members 620, so that the insertion path of the cartridge 10 is guided. More
specifically, this guiding operation controls the position of the cartridge 10 in the Y
direction (left-right direction in this embodiment). Left and right faces of each lateral
guide member 620 (left side face and right side face seen from the front side in the -X
direction) are used to guide two adjacent cartridges in the lateral direction. Five lateral
guide members 620 are accordingly provided for four cartridges 10 in the holder 20a.
The 'pair of lateral guide members 620' denotes that there are two lateral guide
members 620 which are used for one cartridge 10.
[0128] The pair of longitudinal guide members 610 are located at the positions corre
sponding to the pair of longitudinal guide wall members 182 of the cartridge 10 (Fig.
3). In the process of attaching the cartridge 10 to the holder 20a, the lower edges of the
pair of longitudinal guide wall members 182 come into contact with the upper edges of
the pair of longitudinal guide members 610, so that the insertion path of the lower front
end of the cartridge 10 is guided. This guiding operation enables the cartridge 10 to go
down via the correct insertion path that the plurality of terminals 410 to 490 on the
circuit board 400 come into contact with the corresponding apparatus-side terminals
510 to 590 on the terminal block 500a. In other words, this guiding operation guides
the downward trajectory of the lower front end of the cartridge 10 within the plane
parallel to both the Z direction (vertical direction in this embodiment) and the X
direction (front-rear direction of the cartridge 10 in this embodiment). As discussed
later, the guiding operation by the pair of longitudinal guide members 610 is preferably
performed subsequent to the guiding operation by the pair of lateral guide members
620.
[0129] Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the structure of the terminal block 500a
according to the second embodiment. The terminal block 500a has such a structure that
a pair of board guide members 504 are added at the positions of opposite side faces of
the terminal block 500 according to the first embodiment (Fig. 10). In other words, the
pair of board guide members 504 are located on both sides of the group of the
apparatus-side terminals 510 to 590. The pair of board guide members 504 are located
at the positions corresponding to the cutouts 186 of the board mount portion 180 of the
cartridge 10 (Fig. 3). As discussed later, in the process of attaching the cartridge 10 to
the holder 20a, the side faces of the circuit board 400 are guided between the pair of
board guide members 504, so that the position of the cartridge 10 is controlled in the Y
direction (width direction or left-right direction). The inner surfaces of respective ends
in the +Z direction (upper ends) of the pair of board guide members 504 are preferably
tapered. This is because the tapered surfaces readily guide the side faces of the circuit
board 400.
[0130] Fig. 19 shows one example of positional relation of the four types of guide members
270, 610, 620 and 504 discussed above with reference to Figs. 17 and 18. The pair of
lateral guide members 620 are located at the farthest position in the +Z direction
(highest position) among these guide members 270, 610, 620 and 504. The pair of
lateral guide members 620 start guiding the cartridge 10 prior to the other guide
members 270, 610 and 504. The pair of longitudinal guide members 610 are located
further down in the -Z direction (lower position) from the pair of lateral guide
members 620. The pair of board guide members 504 provided on the terminal block
500a are located further up in the +Z direction (higher position) from the pair of lon
gitudinal guide members 610. In another embodiment, the positional relation (height
relation) in the SYMBOL 177 \f "Symbol" \s 12Z directions between the board guide
members 504 and the longitudinal guide members 610 may be reversed. The fitting rib
270 is located at the farthest position in the -Z direction (lowest position) among the
guide members 270, 610, 620 and 504.

WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
Claims
[Claim 1] A printing material cartridge adapted to be detachably attached to a
printing apparatus having a cartridge attachment section to which a
plurality of the printing material cartridges are adapted to be detachably
attached, the cartridge attachment section including, for each of the
plurality of printing material cartridges: a terminal block having an
inclined surface; apparatus-side terminals including one apparatus-side
ground terminal, the apparatus-side terminals arranged on the terminal
block, arrayed in a Y direction, and are protruded in a +Z direction
from the inclined surface of the terminal block, the one apparatus-side
ground terminals located on center in the Y direction among the
apparatus-side terminals and protruded to a greater height than heights
of other plural apparatus-side terminals in the +Z direction from the
inclined surface of the terminal block; and a printing material supply
pipe having a central axis C, a base portion and a tip portion, the base
portion being fixed to the cartridge attachment section, wherein an axis
parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is
referred to as a Z axis, an axis orthogonal to the Z axis is referred to as
an X axis, an axis orthogonal to both the Z axis and the X axis is
referred to as a Y axis, a direction towards the base portion from the tip
portion of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as -Z
direction, a direction towards the tip portion from the base portion of
the printing material supply pipe is referred to the +Z direction, a
direction of array of the plurality of printing material cartridges
attached to the cartridge attachment section is referred to as the Y
direction, the printing material cartridge comprising:
a circuit board including a plurality of cartridge- side terminals formed
on a surface thereof, the plurality of cartridge- side terminals r e
spectively having contact portions adapted to contact with corre
sponding ones of the apparatus-side terminals;
a printing material supply port including an opening face parallel to the
X direction and the Y direction on a -Z-direction end of the printing
material cartridge, the printing material supply port adapted to be
connected with the printing material supply pipe; and
a board mount portion on which the circuit board is fixed such that a
surface of the circuit board is facing a plane extended from the opening
face of the printing material supply port, and that the surface of the
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
circuit board is inclined at an acute angle relative to the plane extended
from the opening face of the printing material supply port, wherein
among the plurality of cartridge-side terminals provided on the surface
of the circuit board, one cartridge-side terminal has one contact portion
adapted to contact with the one apparatus-side ground terminal, and
other plural cartridge- side terminals have other contact portions re
spectively adapted to contact with the other plural apparatus-side
terminals,
the one cartridge- side terminal is located at a position intersecting with
a CA plane, which is defined by the central axis C and an axis A that
goes through the central axis C and is parallel to the X axis, and
the circuit board is positioned such that the one cartridge- side terminal
adapted to contact with the one apparatus-side ground terminal before
the other plural cartridge- side terminals come into contact with the cor
responding other plural apparatus-side terminals in process of at
tachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment
section.
[Claim 2] The printing material cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the circuit board is positioned such that side faces of the circuit board
are guided between a pair of board guide members that are provided on
respective sides of the apparatus-side terminals on the cartridge at
tachment section, in the process of attachment of the printing material
cartridge to the cartridge attachment section.
[Claim 3] The printing material cartridge in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the circuit board is positioned such that the one cartridge- side terminal
comes into contact with the apparatus-side ground terminal prior to or
substantially simultaneously with contact of the side faces of the circuit
board with the pair of board guide members, in the process of at
tachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment
section.
[Claim 4] The printing material cartridge in accordance with any one of claims 1
to 3, wherein
the one cartridge- side terminal has a longer dimension in an attachment
direction of the printing material cartridge than those of the other plural
cartridge- side terminals.
[Claim 5] The printing material cartridge in accordance with any one of claims 1
to 4, further including:
a first face having the printing material supply port;
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
a second face opposed to the first face;
a third face intersecting with the first face and the second face; and
an overhang section provided at a position where the first face meets
the third face, the overhang section including a stepped portion
continuous with the first face,
wherein the board mount portion is located at a position advancing in
the +Z direction from the stepped portion of the overhang section.
[Claim 6] The printing material cartridge in accordance with any one of claims 1
to 5, further comprising:
a first face having the printing material supply port;
a second face opposed to the first face;
a third face intersecting with the first face and the second face, the third
face having a first cartridge-side engagement element that engages with
a first apparatus-side engagement element of the cartridge attachment
section in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to
the cartridge attachment section;
a fourth face intersecting with the first face and the second face and
opposed to the third face, the fourth face having a second cartridge-side
engagement element that engages with a second apparatus-side en
gagement element of the cartridge attachment section in the process of
attachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment
section;
a fifth face intersecting with the first face, the second face and the third
face; and
a sixth face intersecting with the first face, the second face and the third
face and opposed to the fifth face,
wherein the printing material supply port has an opening protruded
from the first face, and
the opening face of the printing material supply port is defined by edge
of the opening.
[Claim 7] The printing material cartridge in accordance with any one of claims 1
to 6, wherein
the one contact portion adapted to contact with the one apparatus-side
ground terminal islocated on center of width in the Y direction of the
printing material cartridge.
[Claim 8] The printing material cartridge in accordance with any one of claims 1
to 7, wherein
the circuit board is arranged such that the surface of the circuit board is
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
inclined at an angle of 25 to 40 degrees relative to the opening face of
the printing material supply port.
[Claim 9] The printing material cartridge in accordance with any one of claims 1
to 8, wherein
the one contact portion for grounding, a pair of first contact portions of
the other contact portions for high voltage application and a pair of
second contact portions of the other contact portions for first low
voltage application are aligned in the Y direction, and
the pair of first contact portions are located at outermost positions, the
pair of second contact portions are located between the pair of first
contact portions, and the one contact portion is located between the pair
of second contact portions.
[Claim 10] The printing material cartridge in accordance with claim 9, wherein
the plurality of contact portions of the plurality of cartridge-side
terminals are arrayed in two rows in the Y direction,
the one contact portion, the pair of first contact portions and the pair of
second contact portionsare included in a first row on a -Z-direction side
of the two rows,
a pair of third contact portions of the other contact portions for
overvoltage detection and at least one contact portion of remaining of
the other contact portions for second low voltage application are
included in a second row on a +Z-direction side of the two rows,
in the second row, the pair of third contact portions are located at
outermost positions, and the at least one contact portion is located
between the pair of third contact portions,
the third contact portion is located in the Y direction between the first
contact portion and the second contact portion adjacent to the first
contact portion.
[Claim 11] A printing material supply system, comprising:
a plurality of the printing material cartridges in accordance with claim
1; and
a printing apparatus having a cartridge attachment section to which the
plurality of the printing material cartridges are attached, the cartridge
attachment section including, for each of the plurality of printing
material cartridges:
a terminal block having an inclined surface;
apparatus-side terminals including one apparatus-side ground terminal,
the apparatus-side terminals arranged on the terminal block, arrayed in
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
a Y direction, and protruded in a +Z direction from the inclined surface
of the terminal block, the one apparatus-side ground terminal located
on center in the Y direction among the apparatus-side terminals and
protruded to a greater height than heights of other plural apparatus-side
terminals in the +Z direction from the inclined surface of the terminal
block; and
a printing material supply pipe having a central axis C, a base portion
and a tip portion, the base portion being fixed to the cartridge at
tachment section,
wherein an axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material
supply pipe is referred to as a Z axis, an axis orthogonal to the Z axis is
referred to as an X axis, an axis orthogonal to both the Z axis and the X
axis is referred to as a Y axis, a direction towards the base portion from
the tip portion of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as -Z
direction, a direction towards the tip portion from the base portion of
the printing material supply pipe is referred to as the +Z direction, a
direction of array of the plurality of printing material cartridges
attached to the cartridge attachment section is referred to as the Y
direction,
[Claim 12] The printing material supply system in accordance with claim 11,
wherein
the printing material cartridge further includes:
a first end face and a second end face opposed to each other in the X
direction;
a first cartridge- side engagement element provided on the first end face,
the first cartridge- side engagement element engaging with a first
apparatus-side engagement element provided on the cartridge at
tachment section; and
a second cartridge-side engagement element provided on the second
end face, the second cartridge- side engagement element engaging with
a second apparatus-side engagement element provided on the cartridge
attachment section,
the apparatus-side ground terminal has a predetermined pressing force
and the circuit board is fixed on the board mount portion at a prede
termined surface angle, such that the first end face is moved back in the
+Z direction only by the apparatus-side ground terminal among the
plurality of apparatus-side terminals presses the circuit board in the +Z
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
direction, when a user releases hand from the printing material
cartridge in a state of half engagement in the process of attachment of
the printing material cartridge, wherein the state of half engagement is
a state wherein the second cartridge-side engagement element is in
complete engagement with the second apparatus-side engagement
element but the first cartridge-side engagement element is just before
complete engagement with the first apparatus-side engagement element
to restrict motion of the printing material cartridge in a vertical
direction.
[Claim 13] A printing material supply system, comprising:
a plurality of the printing material cartridges; and
a printing apparatus having a cartridge attachment section to which the
plurality of a printing material cartridges are attached, the cartridge at
tachment section including, for each of the plurality of printing material
cartridges:
a terminal block having an inclined surface;
apparatus-side terminals including one apparatus-side ground terminal,
the apparatus-side terminals arranged on the terminal block, arrayed in
a Y direction, and protruded in a +Z direction from the inclined surface
of the terminal block, the one apparatus-side ground terminal located
on center in the Y direction among the apparatus-side terminals and
protruded to a greater height than heights of other plural apparatus-side
terminals in the +Z direction from the inclined surface of the terminal
block; and
a printing material supply pipe having a central axis C, a base portion
and a tip portion, the base portion being fixed to the cartridge at
tachment section,
wherein an axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material
supply pipe is referred to as a Z axis, an axis orthogonal to the Z axis is
referred to as an X axis, an axis orthogonal to both the Z axis and the X
axis is referred to as the Y axis, a direction towards the base portion
from the tip portion of the printing material supply pipe is referred to as
-Z direction, a direction towards the tip portion from the base portion of
the printing material supply pipe is referred to as the +Z direction, a
direction of array of the plurality of printing material cartridges
attached to the cartridge attachment section is referred to as Y
direction;
each of the printing material cartridges comprising:
PCT/JP2011/004938
a circuit board including a plurality of cartridge- side terminals formed
on a surface thereof, the plurality of cartridge- side terminals r e
spectively having contact portions that come into contact with corre
sponding ones of the apparatus-side terminals;
a printing material supply port including an opening face parallel to the
X direction and the Y direction on a -Z-direction end of the printing
material cartridge, the printing material supply port being connected
with the printing material supply pipe; and
a board mount portion on which the circuit board is fixed such that a
surface of the circuit board is facing a plane extended from the opening
face of the printing material supply port, and that the surface of the
circuit board is inclined at an acute angle relative to the plane extended
from the opening face of the printing material supply port, wherein
among the plurality of cartridge-side terminals provided on the surface
of the circuit board, one cartridge-side terminal has one contact portion
that comes into contact with the one apparatus-side ground terminal,
and other plural cartridge-side terminals have other contact portions
that respectively come into contact with the other plural apparatus-side
terminals,
the one cartridge- side terminal is located at a position intersecting with
a CA plane, which is defined by the central axis C and an axis A that
goes through the central axis C and is parallel to the X axis, and
the circuit board is positioned such that the one cartridge- side terminal
comes into contact with the one apparatus-side ground terminal before
the other plural cartridge- side terminals come into contact with the cor
responding other plural apparatus-side terminals in process of at
tachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment
section,
the cartridge attachment section further having a pair of board guide
members provided on respective sides of the apparatus-side terminals,
and a pair of longitudinal guide members,
the circuit board having a pair of longitudinal guide wall members
provided corresponding to the pair of longitudinal guide members of
the cartridge attachment section, the pair of longitudinal guide wall
members being located at positions advancing in the Z direction from
the one cartridge- side terminal on respective side faces of the circuit
board,
wherein the circuit board is arranged such that the respective side faces
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
of the circuit board are guided between the pair of board guide
members in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge
to the cartridge attachment section, and such that the one cartridge-side
terminal comes into contact with the apparatus-side ground terminal
prior to or substantially simultaneously with contact of the respective
side faces of the circuit board with the pair of board guide members in
the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to the
cartridge attachment section,
the printing material cartridge being attached to the cartridge at
tachment section by a sequence of steps of:
(a) the printing material cartridge is being inserted to move in the -Z
direction while peripheries of -Z-direction ends of the pair of lon
gitudinal guide wall members are in contact with +Z-direction ends of
the pair of longitudinal guide members;
(b) the one cartridge-side terminal comes in contact with the apparatusside
ground terminal after the pair of longitudinal guide wall members
start moving in the -Z direction while being in contact with the pair of
longitudinal guide members, and before the respective side faces of the
circuit board come into contact with the pair of board guide members;
and
(c) the printing material cartridge is moving in the -Z direction to be
inserted, while the respective side faces of the circuit board are in
contact with the pair of board guide members.
[Claim 14] The printing material supply system in accordance with claim 13,
wherein
the cartridge attachment section further has a pair of lateral guide
members,
the board mount portion has a pair of lateral guide wall members
provided corresponding to the pair of lateral guide members, the pair of
lateral guide wall members being located at positions advancing in the
+Z direction from the one cartridge-side terminal on the respective side
faces of the circuit board, and
the printing material cartridge is configured such that outer surfaces of
the pair of lateral guide wall members are guided by inner surfaces of
the pair of lateral guide members prior to the step (a) in the process of
attachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment
section.
[Claim 15] The printing material supply system in accordance with claim 14,
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
wherein
the board mount portion has cutouts located between the pair of lon
gitudinal guide wall members and the pair of lateral guide wall
members to make the respective side faces of the circuit board exposed,
and the pair of board guide members of the cartridge attachment section
come into contact with exposed side faces of the circuit board exposed
by the cutouts.
[Claim 16] The printing material supply system in accordance with any one of
claims 13 to 15, wherein
the printing material cartridge further includes:
a first face having the printing material supply port;
a second face opposed to the first face;
a third face intersecting with the first face and the second face; and
an overhang section provided at a position where the first face meets
the third face, the overhang section including a stepped portion
continuous with the first face,
wherein the board mount portion is located at a position advancing in
the +Z direction from the stepped portion of the overhang section.
[Claim 17] The printing material supply system in accordance with claim 16,
wherein
the printing material cartridge has a fitting element at a position of in
tersection between the stepped portion and the first face,
the cartridge attachment section has an apparatus-side fitting element
corresponding to the fitting element of the printing material cartridge,
and
in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to the
cartridge attachment section, the printing material cartridge is guided at
least by start of fitting of the fitting element with the apparatus-side
fitting element in the step (c).
[Claim 18] The printing material supply system in accordance with any one of
claims 13 to 17, wherein
the printing material cartridge further including:
a first face having the printing material supply port;
a second face opposed to the first face;
a third face intersecting with the first face and the second face, the third
face having a first cartridge- side engagement element that engages with
a first apparatus-side engagement element of the cartridge attachment
section in the process of attachment of the printing material cartridge to
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
the cartridge attachment section;
a fourth face intersecting with the first face and the second face and
opposed to the third face, the fourth face having a second cartridge-side
engagement element that engages with a second apparatus-side en
gagement element of the cartridge attachment section in the process of
attachment of the printing material cartridge to the cartridge attachment
section;
a fifth face intersecting with the first face, the second face and the third
face; and
a sixth face intersecting with the first face, the second face and the third
face and opposed to the fifth face,
wherein the printing material supply port has an opening protruded
from the first face, and
the opening face of the printing material supply port is defined by edge
of the opening.
[Claim 19] The printing material supply system in accordance with any one of
claims 13 to 18, wherein
the one contact portion that comes in contact with the one apparatusside
ground terminal is located on center of width in the Y direction of
the printing material cartridge.
[Claim 20] The printing material supply system in accordance with any one of
claims 13 to 19, wherein
the circuit board is arranged such that the surface of the circuit board is
inclined at an angle of 25 to 40 degrees relative to the opening face of
the printing material supply port.
[Claim 21] The printing material supply system in accordance with any one of
claims 13 to 20, wherein
the one contact portion for grounding, a pair of first contact portions of
the other contact portions for high voltage application and a pair of
second contact portions of the other contact portions for first low
voltage application are aligned in the Y direction, and
the pair of first contact portions are located at outermost positions, the
pair of second contact portions are located between the pair of first
contact portions, and the one contact portion is located between the pair
of second contact portions.
[Claim 22] The printing material system in accordance with claim 21, wherein
the plurality of contact portions of the plurality of cartridge-side
terminals are arrayed in two rows in the Y direction,
WO 2012/029327 PCT/JP2011/004938
the one contact portion, the pair of first contact portions and the pair of
second contact portions are included in a first row on a -Z-direction
side of the two rows,
a pair of third contact portions of the other contact portions for
overvoltage detection and at least one contact portion of remaining of
the other contact portions for second low voltage application are
included in a second row on a +Z-direction side of the two rows,
in the second row, the pair of third contact portions are located at
outermost positions, and the at least one contact portion is located
between the pair of third contact portions,
the third contact portion is located in the Y direction between the first
contact portion and the second contact portion adjacent to the first
contact portion.
[Claim 23] The printing material supply system in accordance with any one of
claims 13 to 22, wherein
the printing material cartridge further includes:
a first end face and a second end face opposed to each other in the X
direction;
a first cartridge- side engagement element provided on the first end face,
the first cartridge- side engagement element engaging with a first
apparatus-side engagement element of the cartridge attachment section;
and
a second cartridge-side engagement element provided on the second
end face, the second cartridge- side engagement element engaging with
a second apparatus-side engagement element provided on the cartridge
attachment section,
the apparatus-side ground terminal has a predetermined pressing force
and the circuit board is fixed on the board mount portion at a prede
termined surface angle, such that the first end face is moved back in the
+Z direction only by the apparatus-side ground terminal among the
plurality of apparatus-side terminals presses the circuit board in the +Z
direction, when a user releases hand from the printing material
cartridge in a state of half engagement in the process of attachment of
the printing material cartridge, wherein the state of half engagement is
a state wherein the second cartridge- side engagement element is in
complete engagement with the second apparatus-side engagement
element but the first cartridge- side engagement element is just before
complete engagement with the first apparatus-side engagement element
PCT/JP2011/004938
to restrict motion of the printing material cartridge in a vertical
direction.